Katlego Sekhu

North West’s Department of Health has launched an investigation at Mahikeng Hospital following an incident on Saturday, 21 May where newborn babies were placed in card boxes instead of incubators.
This came to light after a video was shared on social media where babies were wrapped in hospital blankets, with nasogastric tubes, and placed in brown boxes.
The province’s MEC of Health, Samantha Madoda said that this is totally unacceptable. An investigation has been launched into the matter.
“This incident of putting babies in card boxes is not allowed and there is no way in any procedure where it is approved. What happened is that on Saturday 56 babies were born. They were not born at the same time. Gradually they became 56 at 11.
“What was available was 47 incubators. This is a problem of management. How would a manager of a ward who knows on the day they only have 47 incubators and does not make prior arrangements before they are full?”
North West Health MEC Dr Madoda
Listeners had strong views that they shared with Sizwe Dhlomo and Sol Phenduka on the matter.



