NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 347
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 July 2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 19)
Mr V M Manzini (DA-Mpumalanga) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether he has been informed of the number of babies who are dying
each year in public hospitals as a result of the (a) lack of Intensive
Care Unit space, (b) shortage of staff, (c) problems with infection
control and (d) shortage of paediatric surgeons; if not, what is the
position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether he will launch an investigation into the matter; if not, why
not; if so, when;
(3) whether any steps have been taken to address these problems; if not,
why not; if so, what steps?
CW449E
REPLY:
1) A Ministerial Committee collects information regarding the numbers of
infants and children under five years of age who die in public
hospitals each year. However, the proportion of the deaths that result
from lack of Intensive Care Unit space, shortages of staff, problems
with infection control and shortages or paediatric surgeons is not
available;
2) Two Ministerially-appointed committees, the National Perinatal
Mortality and Morbidity Committee (NaPeMMCo) and the Committee on
Mortality and Morbidity in Children (CoMMiC) review infant and child
deaths, and make recommendations as to how these deaths can be
avoided. There is therefore no need for any new investigation.
3) Yes. Reducing maternal and child deaths is a priority as outlined in
Strategic Output 2 of the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement
(NSDA). A number of interventions have been put in place. These
include:
⢠Development and implementation of a Human Resource Strategy to
improve availability of all categories of health workers;
⢠Establishment of National Core Standards for Health Facilities.
These include a particular focus on cleanliness and infection
control;
⢠Revitalization of hospitals to ensure that adequate facilities
for provision of maternal and child health services (including
ICU services in secondary, tertiary and central hospitals) are
available;
⢠Launch and implementation of the CARMMA (Campaign on the
Accelerated Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Africa)
Strategy;
⢠Expanding implementation of CHIP (Child Health Care Problem
Identification Programme) and PPIP (Perinatal Problem
Identification Programme).
END.