Control of milk stock investigated

The department of health is investigating how the baby milk formula, which was allegedly sold to desperate mothers during a formula shortage, fell into the hands of unauthorised clinic staff.

The Times this week bust the HIV counsellor, known only as “Sister Thandi”, at the Chiawelo Clinic after discovering that she was allegedly selling government-issued baby milk formula to an HIV positive mother — who should have received it free.

While tiny babies were being fed watered-down maize meal and black tea during this month's formula shortage, Sister Thandi was allegedly selling the little stock left at the clinic for R150 for a six-pack.

The HIV-positive mother also accused other clinic staff of selling the government-issued milk formula.

Gauteng health department spokesman John Louw said yesterday: “We are cross checking all our systems to find out exactly how this did happen.

“We have to find out how exactly people got the milk if their names were not registered and [they] did not produce their clinic cards.”

The woman's employer, the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, said she should never have had access to the formula that she allegedly sold to mothers.

The Perinatal HIV Research Unit is contracted to the health department.

The non-government organisation's managing director, James McIntyre, said the woman was fired as soon as the alleged theft was discovered.

McIntyre said: “This [incident] has raised concerns about the level of control at state clinics and hospitals, concerning who has access to the patients' products.”

“It is very unfortunate that our employee was caught selling baby milk formula when, in fact, she was not supposed to have access to the clinic products.”

Louw said the matter was in the “hands of the police” and baby formula was now available at clinics and hospitals.

Source: The Times

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