Glen View Poly Clinic Staff Under Scrutiny As Residents Petition Mayor
Glen View residents are set to petition Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume over an incident in which a woman gave birth in a toilet after she was denied health care services by staff at a poly clinic in the suburb.
Esthina Swaba was forced to give birth in a toilet at the clinic last week after health personnel duty refused to attend to her citing that they attend to those giving birth for the first time, it is also alleged that a nurse on duty withheld the woman’s maternal health card for unspecified reasons.
Residents were mobilising people to sign the petition in which they highlighted violation of human rights enshrined in the country’s constitution.
“Therefore, the residents demand the Harare Mayor to: make a mandatory policy for all the health personnel on duty to wear name tags/staff badges for easy identification and to improve complaint reporting mechanism. Direct the Health Director to publicize the Patients Charter including sharing digital posters of the charter and hang posters of the charter at all council clinics, and offices.
“Inform the Director of Health to effect disciplinary measures on the nurse/health personnel who ill-treated Ms Swaba and if possible remove her from Glen View Poly Clinic, and take responsibility of any damages and cost incurred during giving birth caused by negligence of their health personnel. Increase budget allocation and fiscal commitment towards maternal health care provision in the 2023 Council Budget, and make maternal health a priority in the year 2023.
“Put maternal health provision on the agenda of the upcoming Full Council Meeting or call for a Special Council Meeting to discuss the Status of Maternal Health Care Provision in the City and come up with recommendations. Set up an Investigation Committee in terms of Section 100 of the Urban Councils Act 29:15 on the Status of Maternal Health Provision in the City of Harare, considering the continued reports of negligence, corruption and poor maternal provision in Council health centres across the city.” read the petition
