Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
| by Dr Isak Fritz, MPL – DA Northern Cape Spokesperson of Health |
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| Date: 26 February 2020 |
| Release: Immediate |
| The death of a nine-month old baby has prompted the Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape to call on the MEC of Health, Mase Manopole, to launch an urgent investigation into the state of health care at the Fraserburg Community Health Centre.Baby Lowaylen Maans tragically passed away on 9th of February 2020, after three weeks of illness. The baby’s mother, Shannon Maans, frequented the CHC approximately six times, seeking medical care for her little one. The nurse, Sister Anna, told her to give the baby water to drink and never opted to refer him for a doctor’s appointment. Even when the baby presented with a bloody stool, the sister was not perturbed and still refused to refer the baby, despite the mother insisting that her son be sent to see a doctor at Calvinia Hospital. Baby Lowaylen finally passed away after what can only be described as a deadly lack of care from the Fraserburg CHC.The DA is devastated by the baby’s passing. If Lowaylen had been given a proper diagnosis and received quality health care, he might still be alive today, he might still have a bright future.This is not the first time that the Fraserburg CHC has come under the spotlight. The DA previously received complaints about high absenteeism and staff being drunk on duty, which we referred to the sister in charge.Well over a year ago, I also raised my concerns relating to the respective nurse and the Fraserburg facility, with then MEC of Health, Fufe Makatong. At the time, I had witnessed truant nurses leaving security officials in charge of patients, with no sister on duty over weekends.Other findings included a lack of controls at the facility, that saw patient records kept in an unsecure area. Pharmaceuticals were also not secure and there were no controls to manage the dispensing of medicines, enabling staff to help themselves without any form of access control register having to be filled in.At the time, I called for an urgent intervention, to no avail.I have since also unsuccessfully called on the Legislature Portfolio Committee Chairperson of Health, Sanna Tieties, to schedule an oversight inspection to the facility. I have even tried to phone MEC Manopole but could not reach her. I am now calling out to her one last time to do something about the state of health care at this facility or risk getting blood on her hands.The DA wants the portfolio committee, accompanied by MEC Manopole, to conduct a thorough oversight inspection of the facility and also to institute an investigation into all the allegations raised, including the death of baby Lowaylen.Baby Lowaylen and his family deserve justice. If there was indeed wrongdoing at play, they deserve someone to be held liable for the preventable death of an innocent child. |
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