adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THE Ministry of Health and Childcare has launched an investigation after a Gwanda woman died while in labour, allegedly due to negligence by Manama Mission Hospital staff.
Matabeleland South provincial medical director Dr Brian Abel Maponga said a fact-finding team composed of members from the district and province led by a local doctor would be in Manama Hospital today, to interview workers at the hospital.
“The team is going to get the facts on the ground by interviewing the people at the hospital. The team would be exploring the clinical gaps and logistical gaps. Right now we’ve the reports, we know what we’ve noted and so forth, so we want to fill the information gaps by interviewing people,” Dr Maponga said. “However, the most important information is what’s on the patient’s notes. That’s what tells the story.”
The patient’s note is documented information on interventions which were made, step-by-step, in dealing with the patient. “My role as an administrator is to ensure we get to the bottom of it, getting facts objectively. We’ll rehabilitate people who would’ve been found wanting based on the facts that we would’ve gathered,” he said.
Dr Maponga said if a case of negligence was proved, action would be taken depending on the gravity of negligence as per procedure on dealing with such matters.
“That’s why we’re going to interview the individuals who were on duty. I don’t want to pre-empt that. They’ve the notes and they know what questions they’re going to ask,” he said.
Dr Maponga said a detailed report on the investigations is expected to be complete by next week.
On November 1, 2015, Progress Moyo, 26, from Nkalange area in ward 15 died after she endured more than 14 hours of labour. Nurses allegedly ignored her as she writhed in pain.
Moyo had been transferred from Selonga Clinic to Manama when a nurse at the clinic saw that her condition was critical. However, at Manama hospital, the hospital staff allegedly indicated that she would have to wait for the doctor who was not available the whole day. The doctor arrived after Moyo had breathed her last.
Moyo’s family and some community leaders accused the hospital staff of negligence and some even demanded that those responsible should be struck off the nursing register.
Manama Hospital has two doctors, but according to Moyo’s family none of the doctors was available from morning until 5PM on the day.
Moyo’s baby is believed to have died as she battled alone to give birth.
Online Reporter