By Kaya 959 Reporter
A woman was forced to give birth to her baby outside the gates of a 24-hour clinic after a guard allegedly refused to allow her inside.
The woman went into labour in the early hours of Wednesday morning and was rushed to the Madimbo Clinic in Vhembe, Limpopo.
The woman was reportedly denied entry into the facility and was not assisted by staff inside.
The woman eventually gave birth outside the gate, while waiting for the clinic to open, apparently only at 7am.
The DA’s Health spokesperson in Limpopo Risham Maharaj said the incident was very worrying as this clinic is meant to operate on a 24-hour basis.
“It completely strips this young mother of her dignity in what should have been a joyous day for her. Not only did the Limpopo Department of Health yet again fail a resident, but incidents like this can also result in legal claims against the department,” he said.
R9 billion in medico-legal claims
The DA has since written to Limpopo MEC for Health, Phophi Ramathuba, to investigate further.
Maharaj said the department is already in a precarious financial position and has over R9 billion in medico-legal claims against it. It cannot allow its facilities and staff to ill-treat and neglect patients in this manner.
“MEC Ramathuba and her department must investigate the circumstances around this incident, as well as the reasons why the clinic was not open for 24-hour service, as it should be,” he said.
He added that good quality healthcare in rural areas needs to be prioritised to ensure rural communities of their dignity and access to healthcare.
Two months ago, a woman from the same district was arrested after she beat her newborn to death. The woman had given birth in a mall bathroom. Police said the woman gave birth to a baby girl and began hitting her.
“The baby’s cries were heard by cleaners who rushed to the bathroom. The police were called to the scene and the woman was arrested. The baby died in hospital.
ALSO READ: Alexandra teen appears in court for schoolmate’s murder
