A Mpumalanga mother is demanding answers more than 15 years after a C-section at Barberton Hospital allegedly left her without a womb and in ongoing poor health.
Lindiwe Nzima, 52, from Matsulu, has accused the hospital of medical negligence during her procedure in 2009. She claims she was transferred the same day to Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela, where doctors performed an emergency operation and removed her uterus.
Nzima, a mother of three, said the complications arose because the initial C-section was not done correctly. She described being told upon arrival at Rob Ferreira Hospital around 9pm that she needed immediate surgery to save her life, as she “could not see another day.”
“After the operation, they told me in the morning that the operation was so bad that the blood was oozing. But they don’t know where. They can’t even see. They can’t even tell,” Nzima recounted. She added that hospital staff provided her with a letter stating the issue and advised her to take it wherever she wanted.
Nzima said she was never properly informed about what happened during or immediately after the original procedure at Barberton Hospital. Since 2012, she has been filling in forms in pursuit of information and answers. Her health has deteriorated to the point where she has been in and out of jobs, she said.
The provincial Department of Health acknowledged the broader challenge of medical negligence cases. A spokesperson for the department confirmed that it is currently dealing with 1,200 such cases and has established committees at various levels to address them.
“However, as a department we have noted this challenge. We have encouraged our health facilities to take this into consideration and see what can be done,” the spokesperson said.
The department has formed committees to assess the quality of services offered in hospitals, examine the financial implications of cases, review how doctors conduct themselves in certain situations, and evaluate individual cases presented to the department.
The aim, according to the spokesperson, is not only to manage litigation and payments but also to ensure patients receive the quality service promised to them.
Nzima’s case has gained renewed attention as April is observed as C-section awareness month. She continues to seek clarity and resolution regarding her ordeal.
The Department of Health has not commented specifically on Nzima’s individual case in the available statements.