The Eastern Cape Health Department says it is probing a report that more than a hundred premature babies have died at Mthatha's Nelson Mandela Academic hospital since January.
Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said, however, preliminary indications were that the infants had been referred from peripheral hospitals when they were already very sick. 70 percent of them had been exposed to HIV because their infected mothers did not take antiretroviral during pregnancy.
He said a team of three senior officials had been sent to Mthatha to investigate the report, aired on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) radio, as well as a claim that ventilators were not working in the neonatal ward.
The team was expected to report to MEC Phumulo Masualle and Superintendent-General Siva Pillay later on Monday.
Masualle was expected to address a media briefing in Bhisho on Tuesday at 11h00.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
24 May 2010
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za/)
