Picture: The new-born babies placed in boxes at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Department of Health said investigations are underway after new-born babies were placed in boxes, instead of incubators. This comes after a shocking video was circulated on various social media platforms.
North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The department is shocked to learn of the visuals of new-born babies, placed in boxes, instead of incubators at the neo-natal section at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng.
“The incident allegedly happened on Saturday and we are told that, the management was not aware of the incident. As a result, North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha has directed that the matter be speedily investigated.”
Lekgethwane further said, as a matter of urgency and intervention, Sambatha has called for additional cribs to be immediately sent to the hospital from the facility that has more. He added that the hospital CEO is following up on the procurement because the department has already started the process for additional incubators.
“The department unreservedly apologise to the public and mothers of those babies on how the situation was handled,” he said.
The Guardian 