REPORTER: TSHEPO C MOLOT: The DA in Limpopo is deeply concerned by the high number of child deaths in the province and has written to Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba requesting further details.
Responses to the DA’s parliamentary questions to the Minister of Health indicated that the province has recorded 24 744 child deaths in public health facilities over a ten year period, from 1 January 2013 to December 2022. Limpopo has the fourth highest number of child deaths.
The most common causes nationally of death in children are Diarrhoea and Pneumonia. The most common underlying causes of death in children are severe and moderate acute malnutrition.
Ramathuba and her department must provide clarity on the following:
- A breakdown on the reasons for child deaths in the province
- How many of the child deaths were due to unnatural causes
- Most common causes of death and underlying causes of death in children in Limpopo
- How many medical negligence claims the department faces as a result of child deaths, the nature of the claims and the potential cost to the department
- The number of child deaths by public health facility
The large number of deaths in children in the province is worrying and is evidence of a health system that is poorly managed, under-staffed and under-resourced.
The DA is committed to ensuring adequate healthcare for children that ends preventable child deaths in Limpopo.
