Hospital
16 October 2007
The article and the photograph of three babies that were placed in a
cardboard box instead of cribs (or bassinettes) were very disturbing as they
directly contradicted what we stand for as the Department of Health. As the
department, we insist that all our patients should be treated with dignity. The
delivery of quality healthcare to women and children in particular is one of
our main priorities.
We welcome the role played by the media in bringing this incident to our
attention. However, we appeal to media practitioners that extra care should
always be taken with regard to safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of
patients when reporting on stories of this nature. We are also encouraged by
the positive response we have received from the general public, with many
people expressing the need to support Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to meet
high demands for healthcare.
This approach is based on the understanding that government and the people
need to work together for the development of our country. Amongst these
patriots are corporate and private individuals who approached the Department of
Health and offered to donate a total of 31 bassinettes to Chris Hani
Baragwanath.
In a letter to my office, one donor who provided five bassinettes and
requested to remain anonymous writes:
"My wife, my children and I were moved by the story of the shortage of cribs
at Chris Hani Baragwanath. For most of our lives, my family and I benefited
from the state healthcare system. My son and my daughter were born in a state
institution and this particular story strikes a very special cord in my heart.
My family is now in the position to make the type of contribution that we
believe we are morally compelled to make.
"We wish to donate these cribs as a token of our love and empathy for the
children and mothers that were in the uncomfortable situation to begin with,
but our donation is also our gesture of appreciation to Chris Hani Baragwanath.
We understand their immense challenges and we appreciate all that they do to
help those who are in need.
"We hope that our fellow citizens join in trying to become part of solution
rather than be a critical observer of the less fortunate. We understand that it
may be challenging, but the beneficiaries of this gift are the weakest and most
vulnerable in our society. We humbly request that you take our contribution to
the Chris Hani Baragwanath maternity ward as a gift from the deepest wells of
our hearts.
"Regards"
The donated bassinettes are in addition to 43 bassinettes that have already
been procured by Gauteng Department of Health and delivered to the hospital
last week. The process of reviewing the utilisation of the more than R1,1
billion allocated to the hospital is underway. The aim is to ensure that budget
allocation prioritises the core-functions of this facility, namely health
service delivery.
A multi-disciplinary team has been sent from the Gauteng Department of
Health to assist in improving management capacity at Chris Hani Baragwanath
Hospital. The team of experts has put together a work-plan to implement the
recommendations made by the Task Team that we sent to this facility to
investigate allegations reported in the media. The team of experts will also
support this hospital in implementing measures to reduce long delays in the
procurement system, addressing challenges relating to maintenance and ensure
compliance with infection control policy requirements.
The statistics that have been provided by the Clinical Heads for the
Maternal and Neonatal units confirm that Chris Hani Baragwanath provides
quality health services with fairly good clinical outcomes.
This further proves that there is commitment amongst health workers at the
hospital to deliver quality healthcare. For this, I applaud and congratulate
the clinical staff for upholding high standards at all times. The Department of
Health at a provincial and national level is committed to supporting this
facility and to ensuring that the management systems at the hospital enhance
the delivery of quality healthcare to all communities served by Chris Hani
Baragwanath Hospital.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Department of Health
16 October 2007
