Patients at Nyangabgwe suffer chemical application

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday November 15, 2016 16:56

The Ministry of Health and Wellness confirmed the incident recently during Parliament session saying it happened during the preparation for emergency surgical operation at the hospital on April 30 and May 1, 2016.  This was after the MP for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi wanted to know how the ministry would compensate patients scotched by some chemical at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.

“This happened as a result of reaction to the iodine, which was noticed three days after the operation.

The patients were reviewed on the ward by a team consisting of a surgeon, anaesthetist, chief medical officer (OBGY) and pharmacist. The review noted that there were no systemic effects observed, but there were localised skin reactions,” health minister Dorcas Makgato said.

 She said all the skin reactions were mild to moderate in severity.

The minister said from the review, there was no need for further dermatological intervention at the time and way forward will be determined by subsequent check-ups and prognosis.

She continued: “The plastic surgeon attended to these patients and gave appropriate treatment and management. The hospital is making plans to follow up these patients again.”

On supplementary question, Mmolotsi said, “Minister, ke tshwenngwa ke gore (I am concerned) you are taking this matter lightly. Do you not think there is a possibility that a wrong concentration of iodine was used for this particular purpose, while in actual fact they were supposed to use something else or an iodine of a different concentration?”

However, the minister said she cannot speculate, but it is something that she could go and investigate to say why these patients, why this particular iodine, for them to ensure that this does not occur again.

The minister said she treats the matter seriously. “If I did not I would have not advised you to do what I said you must do. Again, go and do what I have suggested, jaaka re tlhola re dira malatsi otlhe gore re tle re thusane (as we always do everyday so that we could assist each other),” she said.