So many of us have been touched by COVID-19. On 29 June 2020 we lost our beloved son, brother, uncle and friend Shonisani Lethole to COVID-19 in unacceptable circumstances at Tembisa Hospital near Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Seven months later a devastating 203 page report has been released detailing the independent investigation into his death. The report by Office of the Health Ombudsman provides proof that Shoni died due to the gross medical negligence of the Tembisa Hospital and its staff.

We now know the truth not only about the failures in Shoni’s care but also about the extent of the long-term, systemic failings at the hospital. 

The terrible fact is that Shoni was not an isolated case. Many other people have died in circumstances of potential neglect and failure including Sevey Ncube, Anna Mkhize and Elias Singwayo. The people of the East Rand have been campaigning for changes to be made at the hospital for a long time. 

As South Africa battles the COVID-19 pandemic fixing Tembisa Hospital is more urgent than ever. Our dedicated medical workers and professionals must have what they need to fight the virus and save lives.

The Ombud's report makes clear recommendations to improve management, infrastructure and resources.

'Justice is finally within reach' says Patricia Lethole, Shonisani’s mother. 'Nearly 26,000 people signed our first change.org petition and this led the national Minister for Health to refer Shoni’s case to the Health Ombudsman for investigation.

'Thank you to everyone who helped us win the first battle. Please help us finish the job by calling on those responsible to urgently carry out both the report’s key recommendations and key demands by community health activists'.

To #FixTembisaHospitalNow we call on President Cyril Ramaphosa, National Minister for Health, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi specifically to:

1. Suspend the CEO and Accounting Officer, pending a disciplinary enquiry and strengthen the Board to improve the management and governance of the Hospital - IMMEDIATELY

2. Institute a disciplinary inquiry compatible with the Labour Relations Act, into the senior medical staff staff who failed in their responsibilities for Shoni’s care - IMMEDIATELY 

3. Ensure all hospital management and staff follow all COVID-19 and critical care protocols, maintain patient record keeping and ensure families can speak to patients and / or receive daily updates from staff - IMMEDIATELY 

4. Secure the resources to improve availability of COVID PPE - IMMEDIATELY 

5. Work with the Gauteng Department of Health to improve COVID-19 track and trace systems - IMMEDIATELY 

6. Ensure that community-based Covid-19 primary health care support in Tembisa is strengthened with effective community screening, testing Covid-19 health information dissemination and other preventative measures - IMMEDIATELY 

7.  Secure the resources to improve staffing, training, health equipment and infrastructure and - together with changes to practice - protect healthcare workers and improve working conditions - BY 30 APRIL 2021

8. Ensure that hospital management including staff at all levels are trained in promoting ethical leadership, so that they develop ethical courage to tell the truth - BY 30 APRIL 2021

8.  Meet with the family and provide a progress report on the last day of each month until these changes have been implemented. 

10. Publicly acknowledge the pain and suffering of other families who have had loved ones die at Tembisa hospital in circumstances that need clarity, where they received substandard care.

We must fix Tembisa Hospital now so no-one else has to suffer losing a loved one and so the people of the East Rand can trust their hospital to deliver good healthcare for all.

Save lives #FixTembisaHospitalNow!

 

Follow the campaign:

- Twitter @JusticeforShoni

- Facebook/FixTembisaHospitalNow

- justiceforshoni.medium.com

Office of the Health Ombudsman’s report full report: https://bit.ly/2LZr4BJ

#JusticeforShoni fix Tembisa Hospital original petition: https://bit.ly/3acAbH2

*NOTE - the petition demands were updated on the 3 Feb to include 'make changes to practice to protect healthcare workers and improve working conditions'.