ZULULAND District Municipality (ZDM) Mayor, Cllr Zanele KaMagwaza Msibi has called on the KZN Provincial Department of Health to conduct an internal investigation into the alleged delay of treatment of two victims of a snake bites at Nongoma Hospital which eventually led to the death of a two-year-old boy.
Two Nyandeni boys, aged two and seven-years-old from the Maye area of Nongoma (Ward 11), were asleep at the weekend when they were attacked by a cobra which mysteriously entered their house.
Family members said they heard the younger boy crying and went to investigate.
After finding nothing in the house, they went back to sleep, but at around 2am the second boy started screaming.
The family then found the snake inside the house.
An ambulance was called and arrived at about 5am without any first aid equipment to attend to the patients.
It is alleged by the family that the boys were only attended to by a doctor at 6pm before being transferred to the high care unit at 8pm.
‘The following day the family was told the two-year old had passed away and the seven-year-old was still at the hospital,’ one family member said.
ZDM Mayor, Cllr Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi condemned the alleged delay to provide the dying, injured boys with necessary help.
‘When patients are taken to health institutions, especially under emergency circumstances, it is expected that they are attended to with immediate effect.
‘If allegations that the hospital delayed to treat these boys are true, appropriate disciplinary action must be taken against those responsible.
‘I call on the KZN Department of Health to institute an investigation into these allegations,’ she said.
‘My condolences go to the Nyandeni family for their loss and I wish a speedy recovery for the seven-year-old boy who is still recovering in hospital,’ KaMagwaza-Msibi said.
KaMagwaza Msibi and Nongoma Local Municipality Mayor Jeremiah Mavundla visited the Nyandeni family and offered to help the family with the funeral expenses.
This shouldnt be happening in our day and age of Technology…!!!
So very Sad that a Family has lost a child which in my opionion, could have been avoided..
My Prayers go out to this Family, May ourHoly Spirit Comfort and hold them during this tragic time…
Snakes are everywhere,so this thing can happen any time,especialy its a summer time,everybody must be carefull especial those who stayes in Zululand farm areas.I also stay in farm place in Zululand,I used to see some small ones around my place even in my flat at home.so becareful guy.But that famaly who are in a bad situation God have plans they must keep stronger and stronger (by SN Dubazana)
Tragic. This could have been avoided. I would just like to know, in areas far from hospitals, why are there no ‘snake stations’ for people to go to in a case like this? Our national healthcare is not up to standard at all.