Gauteng Health authorities are investigating a clinic in the Ekurhuleni metro after a Zimbabwean teenager was refused help in terminating her pregnancy because she was unable to produce immigration documents.
The girl’s aunt claims staff at Endayeni Clinic in Tembisa turned her away for not having proper documentation. She said she had told the teenager (19) to return to Zimbabwe when she found out she was pregnant but the girl wanted a termination, reports News24.
But the teenager went missing and later, her aunt received a call from Lindiwe Mahlangu of the Positive Women’s Network (PWN), who said she had met the girl outside the clinic, which refused to help her because she did not have (the necessary) documents.
Mahlangu said she had asked the young woman why she was standing outside the clinic “because she had been there almost all day”.
“She said she had been trying to get assistance in terminating her pregnancy but they could not help her because she did not have the right documents. When I spoke to the staff, they said they couldn’t help her without documents and that I should take her to Esangweni Clinic.”
However, at that clinic, they told the teenager she was more than 10 weeks’ pregnant and referred her to a Johannesburg hospital for a more appropriate level of care to perform the termination.
Mahlangu added that it was not uncommon for public healthcare facilities to turn away immigrants seeking help.
“There was another woman from Zimbabwe who wanted to remove an implant, but the public clinics refused to help because she did not have documents.”
Gauteng Health department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said government public health facilities were not supposed to turn away immigrants unless they were being referred for a more appropriate level of care.
“No patient should be denied treatment because they do not have documentation and money, especially emergency patients.”
In April, the Gauteng High Court upheld the rights of all pregnant and lactating women as well as children under six, irrespective of their nationalities and the status of their documentation, to access free health services at all public health establishments.
The department was ordered to amend its policy by 16 October.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
‘Landmark’ ruling confirms free healthcare right for all pregnant women, children
NGO takes Health MEC to court for immigrants to access healthcare
Gauteng clinics still denying treatment for pregnant migrants