And in the news... (ONLY in Africa....)

A 2 year old girl was admitted to a government hospital for treatment as she had badly burned both hands in a tub of very, very hot water. The hospital staff admitted her, and put a drip in her leg / foot. After a few days, they decided to move her to another government hospital, as there was no improvement, and she needed specialised treatment.
At the second hospital she was admitted, looked at, booked for theater.
Where the proceeded to remove both her feet! YUP! They amputated her two little healthy feet.

Now the parents are suing, the DA is asking for answers, and for heads to roll. What about this poor child with badly burnt hands, and no feet?

http://www.health24.com/news/Health_care/1-918,53609.asp

Toddlers' legs amputated by mistake

Created: Monday, November 30, 2009 Print

A two-year-old girl who was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for burn marks on her hands landed up having both legs amputated, the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development said.

"The toddler...was admitted at Far East Rand Hospital and later transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Academic hospital to be treated for burns on her hands. Instead she ended up with her legs being amputated, " said departmental spokesman Mandla Sidu in a statement.

He said the Gauteng Health MEC has called a meeting for Monday with hospital personnel about the incident of negligence to which Thembisa Kometsi from Daveyton was victim.

"Those found to be guilty of negligence...disciplinary action will taken against them which may lead to dismissal", said Mahlangu.

Also in South Africa, with the advent of the so called "First Democratic Government" was the installation of a mandate that as much business as possible should be awarded to those deemed to be previously disadvantaged. (For what it's worth, I think they still disadvantaged - I mean, they black aren't they?)

Anyway, in many instances contracts are awarded to Africans who have registered companies, and know some one who knows someone, or are related to the decision makers of the awarding business. The fact that they have no track record, no proof of actually being able to deliver on the requirement is irrelevant.
Here is an example:-
a) Leratong hospital had for years (20 or more) bought all of it's daily milk requirements from a local dairy farmer, who had the processing plant to do all the required pasteurizing , etc. of the milk. Each time the tender was reissued, he won it, on the basis he was located so close to the hospital, he had almost zero delivery costs, and could beat the competition by 2 - 3 cents per liter. And his sevrice was regular, on time, and good!
So, about 1994 or 1995, the hospital issues a tender for milk. The usual respondents submit thier pricing proposals. As well as a darkie, who knows / is related to / sleeps with whomever is in charge of the decision making process. His proposal is 3 cents per liter more expensive than that of the farmer who has been the regular supplier, but on the basis of his being previously disadvantaged, he gets "credited" for the differance, and wins the tender. Great. But, he has no cows, no farm, does not even have a proper home. He lives in a squatter camp, across the road from the hospital, and his postal address is "poste Restante" at the local post office.
SO, what now? No problem, he approaches the farmer who always supplied the milk, signs a back to back agreement with him to supply the milk on his behalf, and do all of the delivery, invoicing, ect. and takes his cut. 2 - 3 cents per liter. Luvly!

b) This story is even worse:-
http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/933b28b8e2b54cd493d7875d9ce74df8/02-12-2009-09-05/More_medical_waste_dumps_found

More medical waste dumps found
2009-12-02 21:05


* R5m for dumping medical waste
* Waste company faces R10m fine
* Waste head steps down


Johannesburg - The Green Scorpions on Wednesday found another two sites of buried medical waste in the Welkom area in the Free State.

They were found buried on the Jonkerus Farm, 25 km outside the town, and on the Welkom Showgrounds, said chief director for regulatory services in the environmental affairs department, also known as the Green Scorpions, Sonnyboy Bapela.

"It's a crime scene now."

Each waste site was about 10 metres wide. The site on the Showgrounds was at least two metres deep.

Investigators have so far found syringes, scalpels, used bandages, discarded medications as well as amputated limbs, placentas and foetuses.

Wind caused waste to fly around

In a statement the Department of Environmental Affairs warned that the waste "poses a health and bio-hazard risk to the people that may come into contact with it, as well as a risk that significant harm may be caused to the environment."

Further excavation was made impossible due to windy conditions.

"Because of the wind, the medical waste started to fly around."

Investigators have re-buried the waste until a suitable solution for disposal, either a certified landfill or incinerator, could be found.

"It will not be wise to leave it open."

Bapela said the owners of the properties would be served with legal notices before the waste could be moved. Bapela said he could not yet identify who was responsible for dumping the waste illegally.

"We still have to identify the owner who brought the waste there."

R10m fine, 10 years in jail

The improper dumping of medical waste can result in criminal charges. This includes a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of R10m or both, according to the department.

Bapela said the information on the new sites came from journalists who had interviewed Gavin Brasher, owner of Maximus Bricks, where the first illegal medical waste site was found on Friday.

"The owner of the brickyard indicated other sites where waste is buried," said Bapela.

The Sunday Times reported that 300 tons of medical waste had been found on Brasher's property.

It had been dumped there by South Africa's second-largest waste management company, Wasteman. It included bandages, body parts and used syringes.

Company's properties searched

The departments said investigators had searched Wasteman's headquarters in Johannesburg, as well as a company incinerator in Klerksdorp and a treatment facility in Durban.

According to the Times, the Wasteman Group and its affiliate Phambili Wasteman had multi-million rand contracts with over 150 private and government hospitals and clinics.

Wasteman's chief executive Vincent Charnley temporarily quit as head of the Institute of Waste Management for Southern Africa. On Monday his company was suspended from the organisation.

Operations at Maximus Bricks had ceased, and security guards had been posted at all three sites for reasons of public safety, the department said.


- SAPA

Salagatle!