22 March 2001
Following a shocking report in the Sowetan on Friday, 9 March 2001 the Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Gwen Ramokgopa went on a fact-finding visit to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in the evening where she was briefed by the hospital's CEO Dr Reg Broekmann on the case. The MEC ordered an urgent investigation on the matter, to report to her in two weeks' time.
On Saturday afternoon, the MEC, accompanied by Dr Reg Broekmann, visited the bereaved family to express her heartfelt condolences. She told the family that she an emissary of Premier Shilowa and National health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang who were equally shocked to learn about the untimely death of Ms Rose Lukhwareni.
After emphatically listening to family's account of what transpired before and after Ms Lukhwareni death, Dr Ramokgopa intimated to the family that is clear that Ms Lukhwareni died a painful death. She told the family that government has already started thorough investigation on the case and should anyone be found to have been responsible for her death the department will mercilessly deal with them. This case will also be referred to the Health Professional Council for an independent investigation.
She said "while listening to the family, it became clear to me that the experience of the family has been very traumatic in the hands of some members of our staff following the death of Ms Lukhwareni. This will definitely form part of our investigation.
It is the view of the MEC that we cannot have a public health system that continue to fail the people entirely depend on it for their health and their lives. She said maternal deaths in our country are still unacceptably high. "And for this reason and in recognition of the need to reduce maternal deaths, deaths during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period of up to about six weeks after childbirth, during which the uterus returns to its normal size) that government proclaimed these events notifiable with effect from 1 October 1997," Dr Ramokgopa said. This mechanism allowed for determination of where there is a breakdown in the health system and in turn this will allow for remedial action.
Dr Ramokgopa appeals to expectant mothers to religiously attend Antenatal Clinics so that any pregnancy related complications could be detected early and corrected. She also appealed to the public in general that they should be intolerant of any maltreatment health personnel by reporting these events to the department via the CEOs of the hospitals or Heads of clinics where such maltreatment has occurred. "It is only through the help of the public that we can really make our public health system to work well for the public", she said.
In recent weeks there has been reports of cases of maltreatment of patients in some of our institutions. We are investigating these cases thoroughly, and some of the people involved have been charged with professional misconduct and hearings are at the stage of finality. The public will be informed of the outcome.
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