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South Africa: Systematic Failures, Socio Economic Factors Cause Babies' Deaths
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Gabi Khumalo
Eastern Cape
Systematic failures affecting water quality, socio economic factors and environmental health and human resource challenges are some of the causes that led to the death of 24 babies in the Ukhahlamba District.
The report on the circumstances surrounding the death of babies was compiled based on various investigations by the district municipality, provincial and national Departments of Health as well as the National Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF).
The interim report was submitted to the Executive Council (Exco) of the Eastern Cape Government on Monday.
It acknowledged a multiplicity of causes of babies' deaths including insufficient health education to the people especially at household level.
Other causes include the inadequacies in service delivery, which result in infrastructure and human resource backlogs, poverty and inadequate intravenous fluids and anti-biotic to deal with the added demand.
Fifteen babies at the Cloete Joubert Hospital and nine at Empilisweni Hospital died of gastroenteritis during the period of January to March 2008.
Last week, the National Department of Health deployed an outbreak response team to investigate the quality of water in the Eastern Cape following the death of babies.
According to Health Spokesperson Sibani Mngadi, the 24 babies that died from gastroenteritis lived in poor socio-economic conditions with poor access to proper sanitation and safe water.
Provincial Health MEC, Nomsa Jajula visited the area and encouraged traditional health practitioners to work with the district in its joint operation.
She also deployed teams including doctors, nurses, social workers and health promoters to the district to immediately staunch the spate of deaths and stabilise the situation.
The teams also bolstered reporting mechanisms and conducted awareness campaigns.
According to Exco, the district municipality working with DWAF and the Department of Public Works have also ensured chlorination of all water services which are subject to treatment, emergency upgrade of water treatment works in Barkly East.
Training has also been provided to officials on the ground and local community, said the Exco.
The report advised that the issue of water quality and tightening monitoring of compliance to be addressed as a collective action.
"Social Need Cluster of the province and all departments to work with the district municipality and the Department of Health to do an analysis of the status quo across the whole province to ensure that the situation is not repeated," the report said.
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It further advised the intensification of public education.
A consolidated final report inclusive of all the transversal matters relating to the baby deaths will be forwarded to Ms Jajula.
The Exco re-affirmed its deep sadness at the deaths and expressed sympathy to the families of the babies.
Start off with respect for human life>
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