By: Natasha Archary
The Health Ombud has found Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH) to be dirty, filthy and unsafe.
This after an investigation was conducted into a viral video showing pregnant women sleeping on the floor was shared by MMC for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg, Ashley Sauls.
In April last year, Sauls received a number of reports that pregnant women were sleeping on the hospital floors for up to 3-days without receiving medical attention.
The women in the video were all heavily pregnant and were reportedly at the hospital for hours before the MMC’s unplanned visit.
On Tuesday, 14 March, a report by the Health Ombud concluded that Rahima Moosa had disregarded the patients’ dignity.
In addition the hospital was deemed to be a mess, and not one that happened recently, a mess that has been brewing for the past 7-years.
“The callousness and apparent disregard for human safety is chilling, event in the dire lack of resources for a hospital providing critical tertiary level specialist services in the 21st century.
During the investigation into allegations into RMMCH, the most striking thing has been the fact that the hospital has been neglected to such an extent, in almost all respects, for several years.”
Health Ombud, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba said a team had spent almost a year investigating complaints that pregnant women were sleeping on the floor, an absent CEO, and reports of filthy conditions at the hospital.
“It’s very disturbing that a highly specialised hospital that looks after expectant mothers and babies has no laboratory service, no blood bank and no intensive care unit.
You can’t run such a hospital without a 24-hour laboratory service. The hospital also had one CT scanner which does not function, but apparently, it has been sorted out. There is no hospital board and there are security challenges, with cars being stolen at the hospital parking. Staff members have also complained of being mugged and there is a shortage of nursing staff.”
Meanwhile the Gauteng Health Department says it has noted the report on Rahima Moosa Hospital, and will ensure that issues raised will be followed through.
“The Department has already started actioning some of the issues recommended by the OHO which includes transferring the CEO of RMMCH out of the hospital, amongst others.
As part of ensuring that issues raised in the report are followed through, the GDoH will be providing periodical reports on the matter to the Ombud as required.”
