Bulawayo hospital detains new mothers over maternity bills

AT least a dozen mothers are detained at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo with their newborn babies for failing to pay maternity fees, amid reports one of the babies died during the mother's detention last week.

The women spoken to yesterday alleged they were moved to the benches in the discharge ward and told to find their own means of getting food or place to sleep.

The bills range between $100 and $200 depending on the method of delivery and period spent at the hospital.

Hospital officials are reportedly demanding payment upfront before they can be discharged.

Those who undertake to make payment plans were being forced to produce proof of residence and $50 cash to be released.

Although the hospital's acting chief executive officer Dr Wedu Ndebele declined to comment demanding to be given names of the detained women, this reporter visited the hospital and talked to the women who confirmed that they were detained.

They were crowded in Ward Two on the ground floor of the wing with their newborn babies where their names were being called out one by one and those who could not raise the money remained in the ward.

A security guard was stationed at the door of the ward so that they could not escape.

Some relatives who had visited them were being told to go back and bring the money and proof of residence before they could take their loved ones home.

Dr Ndebele alleged there were people who had an agenda against the health institution.

Indications are that scores of other women have had birth records for their babies confiscated, as the health institution wants "its money".

Mothers are supposed to be provided with beds at the post-natal ward after giving birth and discharged later but because they would not have paid, they are detained in the discharge ward and allegedly told to look for somewhere to sleep within the ward.