Health Department suspends nurse for alleged negligence

The provincial spokesperson of the Department of Health, Mr Macks Lesufi, finally confirmed that two nurses who were involved in the negligence case at the Khakhu clinic were suspended, following a disciplinary hearing.

The 19-month-old Mulalo Prince Mulaudzi died after three nurses at the clinic allegedly refused to help in October last year. The parents of the victim, Mr Mashudu and Mrs Mumsy Mulaudzi, submitted a complaint to the Department of Health because they believed that their child had died because the nurses had refused to help.

The then health spokesperson, Ms Adele van der Linde, issued a statement, promising that the department would launch a full investigation into the matter to establish what had led to the incident. She further said that if the department found negligence to be a factor, they would not hesitate to act.

One nurse was suspended for a month and served her with a final written warning. “The other nurse was [also] served with a final written warning,” Lesufi said. “There is definitely progress in the case so far.”

Lesufi added that the nurse who had been put on one month suspension was not satisfied with the department's decision. She appealed against the disciplinary action that was taken against her. “The case will only be fully concluded once the appeal of one of the nurses is heard and finalised,” said Lesufi.

However, Mr Mulaudzi still feels dissatisfied in the manner in which the department is treating the case. “They are not communicating anything in clear terms, and we are just left without any information about proceedings,” he fumed. “We are speaking about the life of our child here. Suspending the nurses is not enough.”

So far, nothing has been said about the third nurse.

The news of Mulalo's death brought much anger and uproar within the community. One reader, named Marcus, even commented on Limpopo Mirror's website, following the publication of the story on 18 October 2013: “I know the father and the mother very well. I am disgusted by the behavior of this clinic. We as South Africans have a right to life and to medical care. I will fight tooth and nail for Mumsy and Alex to be compensated for this injustice. Although money will not bring Baby Prince back, we need to stand up against this negligence. This child had a future destroyed by Government's disinterest and private gains. It is time for us as a nation to say 'No more'.”

News - Date: 15 August 2014

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]