Health MEC suspends ten nurses at Modimolle

By: Maano Nekhavhambe

Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has expressed her displeasure at the manner TB patients were being treated at the MDR Hospital in Modimolle recently. The MEC has confirmed that the Department of Health has suffered a major blow following ten cases of suspended nurses at the newly built hospital.

It is alleged that the suspended nurses ran out of patience with their patients at the TB unit and began to ill-treat victims by throwing tablets towards them through the windows instead of handing them appropriately and the incident infuriated the MEC.

“That was really uncalled for and I was really touched. I felt that it was really unfair to my patients.” Dr Ramathuba lamented

Dr Ramathuba is urging all health officials across the province to be more supportive and treat all her patients with love and dignity. She further emphasised that if the patients are not getting adequate support from their families, health officials must intervene.

“The message here to all nurses and doctors in the province is that if you want to see me happy as the MEC for Health, love my patients. Treat them with dignity because they are my children. Treat them the same way you would want your children to be treated.”

In her World TB Day commemoration speech at Makonde Sports Ground last week, the MEC however extended her praises to the doctors in charge of the TB unit at Donald Fraser Hospital in the Vhembe District.

The manner in which doctors and nurses at Donald Fraser presented the TB unit impressed the MEC and she concluded by stating the fact that the hospital needs the same pocket of excellence from other units, which she is currently not impressed with.