HIV feeding: 2 staff in trouble
2006-10-02 23:07
Norman Silke
Port Elizabeth - Two employees of the Dora Nginza Hospital here are in hot water after a mother's newborn baby was given to an HIV-positive woman to breastfeed.
The incident happened on August 31 after Tamia, the baby daughter of Liezel Jacobs, 18, was born in the hospital and inadvertently given to an unknown woman to feed.
The woman, also had given birth that day to a baby girl.
Later, it was found that the unknown woman was HIV-positive. An internal investigation, led by hospital superintendent Dr Aydin Vehbi, was launched after the incident.
Test result still not known
The executive officer of the Port Elizabeth hospital complex, Dr Lulamile JamJam, said: "Two staff were pointed out as ones who might have acted negligently and they will have to face a disciplinary hearing."
Meanwhile, Jacobs has complained because the result of the HIV blood tests done before she and Tamia were discharged early in September is still not known.
A doctor apparently had said the results would be available 10 days later.
Vehbi said that because there should be a six-month window period allowed for the HIV to manifest itself, the test results will not be completely conclusive.
- Die Burger