Baby Swap Investigated at Princess Marina Hospital
Baboki Kayawe | Monday August 21, 2017 18:00
On Thursday, sources closer to developments say eight-months-old babies born at PMH were brought to the facility for genetic testing upon the hospital’s request.
This is subsequent to hospital management reaching out to numerous mothers telephonically after a couple that had grown very skeptical about the baby’s identity queried at the delivery and maternity units months later.
The couple then came forth to lodge a baby swap complaint after they had suspicion the toddler is not theirs because of “certain anomalous characteristics”.
A mother who birthed at that period said, “I received a call from Princess Marina Hospital alerting me there are high chances one of the mothers who delivered around that period is nursing a baby that’s not theirs. So, they told us to bring the babies today (Thursday) for DNA tests.”
Reached for comment, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Shaneez El Halabi said hospital management was not handling such a case.
“I just called Princess Marina superintendent Dr Seeletso Nchingane and he was not aware of any baby swapping that happened in December at the facility.
He said it was news to him that such a case was being investigated, let alone happened,” she said.
Nchingane had apparently asked matrons and other senior management at the hospital, and were unaware of the matter.
However, by press time, PMH chief communications and public relations officer Donnell Kutlapye had not responded by Friday to the questions below sent to him on Thursday afternoon .
The correspondence from The Monitor went thus: We have received reports of possible baby mix-up that happened in December at Princess Marina Hospital.
1. Kindly give us the hospital’s comment on this matter?
2. Have the mothers (and babies) involved been identified?
3. What is the hospital’s procedure when mothers come forward with suspicions of baby swapping?
4. How prevalent are such cases?