The month old baby ZimEye reported on has had her right arm amputated after nurses at Gwanda Provincial Hospital allegedly mutilated it while trying to insert a cannula.
The Baby’s mother, Patience Chikahamadze (25), told the media that the nurses at the hospital continually complained to patients of being demotivated due to lack of apparatus to use at the hospital over and above their delayed salaries which the family believes could have been the cause of negligence.
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Further to our reporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care yesterday said it had launched an investigation into the alleged negligence by nurses at the hospital.
The state media reports that gangrene had set in on the arm and it was surgically removed at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) on Tuesday.
The family has engaged lawyers to represent them in demanding compensation from the hospital.
Andile’s father, Mr Thabani Galaweni, said he was bitter that his daughter would grow up without an arm because hospital staff slept on duty.
“We’re devastated by the fact that due to the hospital staff’s negligence, Andile has had to undergo this horrible ordeal that may affect her for life. I’ve to simply accept what has happened though and thank God for the success of the operation but frankly, I’m very hurt,” said an emotional Mr Galaweni.
“Words cannot express what I feel. We’ve since engaged lawyers and we’re definitely suing the hospital for the protection of other patients.”
Miss Patience Chikahamadze (25), the baby’s mother, said Andile was born at the health institution on July 22 when she went to visit relatives in Gwanda.
The baby, she said, was admitted for routine observation on July 29 after she was said to be dehydrated.
“We’re thankful to God that the operation was a success. We were worried that our angel wouldn’t make it. She looked so frail after her arm started rotting. She’s still in the intensive care unit,” she said.