The Menu family from Kunoxova locality in Ngqeleni appeals to the Eastern Cape Department of Health to bring back their newborn baby who went missing at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha.
According to Thandisizwe Menu (38), the father of the child, his wife Lindeka Notayi (31) collapsed in 2021 while eight months pregnant. There were resident in Gqeberha at the time.
He said the incident happened on August 1, 2021, and they rushed her to the local clinic, which transferred her to Dora Nginza Hospital. Due to her condition she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital.
“Due to COVID-19 restrictions it was hard for me to see her; I received a call from the hospital informing me that due to the situation they decided to take out the baby and it was a baby boy. I was very happy when I heard that good news. I heard that they also called my mother asking the number of my mother-in-law, as they wanted more information about my wife’s health issues.
“Even then they told her that the baby was well. My mother made arrangements with my sister to fetch the baby,” said Menu.
He added that her sister was told that the baby did not make it.
Menu said that even when his wife was discharged she was told the same thing, that the baby was no more.
Menu said that according to her, the baby was never brought to her after she woke up in ICU, and they both never saw him and that left many questions, since they were told before that the baby was well.
“We tried to make follow-ups on this, trying to find answers about what really happened to our child. Unfortunately we are not satisfied about what they are telling us. The hospital tried to communicate with us about this, asking what they should do for us.
He said that ever since then his wife is still not well and this had affected her life badly.
Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Mkhululi Ndamase, said the department sends their deepest condolences to the mother and the family.
“The department can confirm that this is a known patient. We can confirm that after the neonatal death, redress was done with the family. After the death of the newborn, understandably different family members have made enquiries about the incident at different times.
“The department is in contact with the primary next of kin to harmonise further communication with the family,” said Ndamase.
