By OBAKENG MAJE
A 21-YEAR-OLD woman from Diretsang village near Taung said she is grateful that both her and the child are still alive. This comes after Kegomoditswe Tankie was seen on a video in Taung DailyNews’s position allegedly giving birth on the floor at the ‘disgraced’ Taung District Hospital without any assistance from nurses.
She said she always heard many people complaining about the abuse of patients by healthcare staff in maternity settings in the hospital but never thought one day she will be the victim herself.
“I went to the hospital for labour and I was put in the maternity ward with other pregnant women. The nurses who were on duty were in the other room and informed us to go to them if we experience any labour pains.
“Indeed, I experienced some pains and I went to seek help from them. They assessed and monitored the baby’s condition and ordered me to go back to where I was. They said I must come back at around 11:30,” she said.
However, Tankie further said, she experienced some labour contractions after reaching the room. She added that when she arrived at the ward, she put a towel on the floor next to her bed to rest on it as she was unable to climb the bed.
“I was also thirsty and I requested water from one of the women in the ward. I then went to the nurses after feeling some excruciating pains, but one of the officials in the corridors ordered me to go back saying nurses are still busy.
“I was in severe pains, but I managed to go back to the room again. I stand next to my bed and my legs cramped. I was feeling nauseated and my water breaks. The doctor was called and said I will be ready for labour at 00:20,” said Tankie.
However, she said she gave birth on the floor without any healthcare staff assistance. Now, Tankie mulls to take legal actions for medical negligence.
Belinda Lungile who was also in the maternity ward at the time of the incident alleged that nurses were rude and have arbitrary acts of unkindness toward pregnant patients.
“The abuse towards patients in that ward is well-documented. Since I was at the hospital, I saw the verbal abuse and psychological abuse many patients were subjected to. On 16 February 2021 before this initial incident, I saw nurses abusing some helpless patients and I confronted them.
“However, they also tried to bully me but I stand my ground. They even said I think I am somebody of importance and advocating for those patients will not take me anywhere. It is so ridiculous to find many women shouted at, sometimes beaten and neglected in that maternity care facility,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The hospital has reported the incident to the Adverse Events Committee. The department is disturbed by the incident and we have established that even the Nursing Services Manager was not made aware of the incident.
“The department will ensure that justice is done to that patient. We have made arrangements to get incident reports from the affected shift of nurses and the Adverse Events Committee will take the process forward and make recommendations to the MEC.”
The hospital Board of Directors chairperson, James Gadinabokao who shared the same sentiments came out gun blazing. Gadinabokao said the disciplinary process is going to be instituted.
“Nurses who were on duty that day must be suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings. MEC of Health will be notified about this incident and others that were not reported.
“As the chairperson of the board, I would like to apologise to the family of Ms Kegomoditswe Tankie, her good self and the entire community of Taung. It is not the first time this negligence happened under our watch. Unfortunately, perpetrators of such always hide behind their union trying to play victim knowingly that they have transgressed their contractual obligations as public servants,” he said.
The Guardian 