BY NOTHANDO MAKHUBELA
EMALAHLENI : Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane learnt with shock and disappointment of an incident involving a one month old baby, the unfortunate incident occurred at Bernice Samuel Hospital in Delmas at the Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
The incident occurred at Bernice Samuel hospital as the 21 year old young mother Mbali Sweleni admitted her one month old daughter Lwandle Sweleni at hospital. According to reports says by that time baby Lwandle at Bernice Samuel hospital was suffering from diarrhea and then had to be transferred to Witbank hospital after complications which led to the amputation of baby Lwandle’s hand. The hand amputation complications left Sweleni in unbearable pain to deal with. Sweleni felt betrayed by Bernice Samuel hospital as they have neglected her daughter Lwandle. During interview with Timeless News , Sweleni said “ My daughter had both of her hands healthy and perfectly fine before I took her to Bernice Samuel hospital on Tuesday, 30 March 2021. It is painful to see my daughter’s right cut off,” said Sweleni. “ I don’t know what to say really but what I can say is that I’m really hurt, I’m heart broken. I can’t even sleep or eat because seeing her crying over pains really breaks my heart. What Bernice Samuel hospital did to my child is really painful because what they did is negligence, because I know very well that my child did not pull out the drip. So I don’t know why they lied . I’m really sad I don’t know if I’ll ever heal from this matter. I’m HURT,” she added.
Bernice Samuel hospital alleged claimed that baby Lwandle might have pulled the drip in her hand whilst at hospital. Baby Lwandle’s hand then started to be swollen and ended up being completely totally damaged. Sweleni family also told Timeless News that they’re going to take legal action against Bernice Samuel hospital. The Premier together with MEC for Health Sasekani Manzini visited the baby Lwandle and the Sweleni family at Witbank Hospital giving them their support, monitored the baby’s recovery progress and to assure the family that they don’t take what has happened lightly. “While the investigation begins the medical staff involved should be suspended with immediate effect and we should get a preliminary report by next week. We need only the truth as to what happened, but we also need to make sure we support the family and offer counseling to the young mother and the rest of the family,” said the Premier.
Both the Premier and MEC agree that as government they should take full responsibility of what has happened while a proper investigation is conducted. “We condemn such unfortunate incidents at our health facilities that’s the reason the Premier and I as mothers ourselves saw it fit that we come here in person to show the family that they are not alone and that we committed in ensuring that they get justice for this baby,” said MEC Manzini.
