Pregnant women’s dignity restored

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
FOR more than 10 years pregnant women and those giving birth at Tsholotsho District Hospital’s maternity ward had no privacy as the 40 beds in the ward did not have curtains.

However, that will now be a thing of the past following a donation of curtains by the United Kingdom Tsholotsho Community that was touched by the conditions that also took away the dignity of women.

The 96 curtains were on Friday handed over to the Tsholotsho District Nursing Officer Mrs Mwiya Moonga and the hospital matron Mrs Sibonile Nkala on behalf of the UK Tsholotsho Community by Jarity Gadlagadla Ndlovu and Bekezela Ndlovu.

“What touched us was seeing videos circulating in social media showing that our hospital was literally naked, it had no curtains. It pained us a lot and we asked ourselves how our relatives are treated under those conditions, there is no privacy at all which is key. Everyone felt the need to do whatever they can to change the face of our hospital because it’s for us too and it can only be by us, no one else. If we the people of Tsholotsho can’t help ourselves, outsiders will certainly not be expected to take an active lead,” said the secretary of the group Miss Sanelisiwe Ndlovu, speaking from her base in the UK.

She said numerous fundraising meetings were held under the chairmanship of Paul Ncube.

“Had it not been for the global lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic a lot would have been done but nevertheless we felt we can’t wait for it to end so we got in touch with the authorities in Tsholotsho mainly the matron of the hospital and others. They gave us specifics in terms of the colours of the curtains and we did just that,” said Miss Ndlovu.

In her acceptance speech, the hospital matron Mrs Nkala thanked the UK Tsholotsho Community for restoring the dignity of women.

“We want to extend our appreciation for this gesture, as the hospital matron I am so happy because this donation came at the right and opportune time. As alluded to earlier, when a woman is giving birth the place must be dignified and there must also be privacy, something which has not been there for more than 10 years now. As health personnel at this hospital we are so elated by the gesture as it will bring back that dignity to the woman,” said Mrs Nkala.

Attending the handover ceremony held at the Tsholotsho Hospital boardroom was the Rural District Council chairman Esau Siwela, Tsholotsho District Co-ordinator Aaron Gono, a member of the Tsholotsho Covid-19 taskforce and businessman Minutewell Ncube as well as a member of the Indonsakusa Tsholotsho Community Development Trust Nkululeko Dube.