Pregnant women, awaiting admission for critical caesarean section surgeries were once again forced to sleep on the floor and chairs at Gqeberha’s Dora Nginza Hospital, this week.
In videos and pictures leaked to Algoa FM News, nearly 30 women are seen sitting on chairs in what looks like a conference room at the hospital.
They are clad in pyjamas and casual clothes and none of them are in hospital gear.
NEHAWU Deputy Provincial Secretary, Sweetness Stokwe, released a short statement on Thursday saying the women had not eaten for the past two days.
Speaking to Algoa FM News, Stokwe said that the hospital had over-admitted patients causing a shortage of beds.
She said the woman had not eaten as they had not been allocated beds.
“We have had long meetings today [on Friday] as the union to find a solution to the problem.
Stokwe says it is disappointing that the problem has arisen again this year.
She says that the women had been moved to neighbouring hospitals while they await their procedures.
_CMSthumb.jpg)
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Health Department says it has moved to address over-crowding at the maternity ward in Dora Nginza.
Spokesperson, Yonela Dekeda, says the 29 patients that clinicians felt needed to be placed under observation, were transferred and accommodated at other health facilities.
She said the Department also ensured that all affected patients received medical care as well as meals, which they reportedly had not received for some days.
Dekeda says following a similar situation late last year, the Department identified and allocated budgets for staffing and equipment to activate an additional 30-bedded maternity ward and theatre to ease the pressure in a sustainable way.
She says despite all those efforts, demand for maternity services in the Metro continues to increase.
“The Department is continuing with our efforts to create additional trauma and maternity services at sites like Empilweni Hospital and PE Provincial Hospital."
ALSO READ : First time mom shares traumatic ordeal at Dora Nginza
