The maternity ward at the National District Hospital was relocated to ward 8 on Wednesday, 16 July, after ward 4 in this hospital was closed last week after five babies developed hypothermia.
The Department of Labour and Employment issued a prohibition notice against the 21-bed maternity ward at the National hospital due to low temperatures in the ward.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the Free State Departement of Health said on Friday that the hospital activated a diversion of low-risk cases to the Mangaung University Community Partnership Programme (MUCCP) in Phelindaba, while high-risk cases were attended to at the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital.
The maternity ward was moved to ward 4 after the fire at National on 7 July last year. The hospital is still under construction after the fire.
Lynsie Pelser, spokesperson for the Public Servants Association (PSA) said the ongoing deterioration of healthcare infrastructure in the Free State has reached a critical point.
“We demand the immediate and decisive intervention of the national Department of Health and the national government,” she said in a news release on Thursday.
The PSA asked for intervention in ward 4, where babies, staff, and mothers were exposed to extremely low temperatures.
“Despite the recent allocation of R14,1 billion by the Free State Department of Health to strengthen services and infrastructure, the situation on the ground tells a different story.
“Multiple government mortuaries – including those in Botshabelo, Bethlehem, and Phuthaditjhaba − have been forced to close due to non-compliance and unsafe conditions.
“The Bloemfontein mortuary remains only partially operational, severely compromising forensic pathology services and the dignity of the deceased.”
Pelser said the infrastructure collapse was not only a violation of basic human rights, but also a public health emergency.
“Communities are being denied access to essential services and healthcare workers are operating under unsafe and unsustainable conditions.
“The people of the Free State deserve a healthcare system that is functional, dignified and responsive. We cannot allow systemic neglect to continue while lives hang in the balance.”
Mvambi has confirmed that five babies that suffered hypothermia in ward 4, were discharged and are doing well at home.
