How world sees SA: Covid-19 patients freeze to death at Gauteng hospital, reports BBC

By Jarryd Neves.The BBC has recently reported on the ghastly conditions in which suspected Covid-19 patients found themselves in. Despite their need for hospitalisation, those requiring medical attention allegedly found themselves in a cold tent, with freezing temperatures brought on by winter. This, it is alleged, has led to "people dying of suspected hypothermia.".Speaking to the BBC on condition of anonymity, a doctor at Sebokeng Hospital – one of the largest hospitals in Gauteng – has spoken of the inhumane situation ill patients had to experience. "It was freezing in that tent. As soon as night falls it's horrible, you can see the patients declining. Hypothermia is one of the major causes of death here. Especially in that tent.".The doctor said that in just one 48-hour period, 14 people had succumbed – although not all due to hypothermia. "We're tired and fearful for our patients. I asked myself how many people need to die unnecessarily for there to be an adequate investigation.".___STEADY_PAYWALL___.Describing the tent, the doctor remarked that the temporary structure was in the car park and used as a rudimentary triage and waiting room. "Over the course of several cold and hectic weeks in July, with elderly patients collapsing after being left for two days or more without sanitation, food or proper heating," he said..It was freezing in that tent. As soon as night falls it's horrible, you can see the patients declining.The doctor added that the working conditions were terrible, too, saying that several medical practitioners and hospital staff contracted Covid-19 as a result of the poor conditions. "We don't have drugs. No ventilator equipment. There was PPE (Personal protective equipment) lying all over the place, waiting to infect more people.".Read also: Joining the dots from Covid-19 PPE scandal to Ramaphosa spokesperson Khusela Diko.Speaking to others who could shed light on the matter, family members told BBC of those who suffered while at Sebokeng Hospital. "It's corruption and carelessness. It was freezing. He was shivering, starving," said Jeanette Mlombo to the BBC. Her son, Martin had passed away at the Gauteng hospital. Speaking to reporters, she had mentioned that her son hadn't been tested for the virus, with his initial complaint being swollen legs. He was left in the tent for 12 hours..The BBC was able to obtain leaked messages, which relay the thoughts and opinions of medical experts, strongly recommending that the tents not be used. One of the texts read: "I have never been in favour of tents…I find making our people sleep in cold tents inhuman.".In response to the unnamed doctor's allegations, Kwara Kekana, a spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health refuted the claims, stating "death statistics based on the hospital report does not reflect death diagnosed by hypothermia.".Kekana went on to say that there wasn't a shortage of PPE, nor a lack of "proper donning and doffing areas". He also shared documents with the BBC showing the hand sanitiser, gown and various equipment stock levels..The situation at Sebokeng has apparently improved..As President Ramaphosa continues to crack down on government corruption and the mismanagement of Covid related – and others, for that matter – funds, there are still many questions as to how the funds and have been managed and where it went..Read also: Covid-19 just makes the corruption pot bigger, activist says.The South African government has said that they are investigating various government departments, over anomalies in the Covid-19 related tenders, worth around R5-billion..The anonymous doctor said they (the staff) had complained about the working conditions on multiple occasions and had even inquired about how the Covid-19 funds were being used..The whistleblower told the BBC: "We haven't seen that money. I do know management is aware of our struggles. We've tried multiple times as doctors and nurses to try to ask management where the money is being allocated. Are we going to get more staff, more resources? And we don't really get answers, and that is devastating for us.".Declining to comment or be interviewed, Sebokeng hospital's communication department said all Covid-19 related queries should be directed towards the provincial health department..Kekana added that "the hospital held regular staff meetings, and had a compliance officer and a dedicated team to ensure standards were met.".Investigators are now inspecting over 100 Covid-19 related contracts that have been awarded in the Gauteng province. This follows the corruption allegations against Bandile Masuku, the Gauteng MEC for Health. "Mr Masuku has denied the allegations, saying he was not involved in, nor did he influence the department's procurement processes," said the BBC.

How world sees SA: Covid-19 patients freeze to death at Gauteng hospital, reports BBC

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