TONDERAI SAHARO
A woman who recently delivered twins at Masvingo Provincial Hospital’s joy was short lived as her joy turned into tears following their mysterious disappearance.
To add salt to the bleeding wound the nurse who allegedly delivered the bad news said the premature babies were devoured by cats.
The couple who preferred anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said their babies prematurely born through the caesarian section and they were quickly to the incubators as per procedure while the mother was taken to a recovery room.
However, the couple said minutes later the wife was approached by a nurse who advised her that her babies had died and she was supposed to sign some documents for hospital staff to dispose of them before cats ate them.
The wife refused, arguing that the husband was supposed to sign the papers on his return as she was still recovering from the operation.
Upon the husband’s return the couple said they were shocked when they were told by one of the nurses that their babies had been dragged out of the incubators and devoured by cats which usually roam around the only referral hospital in the province.
When The Midweek Watch contacted one of the nurses in the maternity department she said it is possible that the babies could have been disposed of together with placentas if they were too tiny.
In an effort to seek closure to their case they approached the police at the institution who opened a docket and the matter is under investigation.
“While it is true that babies and placentas are incinerated at the hospital, in this case they should have done so after consultation with the couple or with the consent of the mother.
“If the babies were too tiny, I don’t think there was any need to seek the parents’ signature and there is no way a cat would have invaded the incubators and devour two babies.
“What is also strange is that the nurse talked about cats eating the babies and this is what they allege eventually happened, the whole issue is marred in controversy, it’s not adding up,” said a senior employee at the hospital on condition of anonymity for professional reasons.
It is alleged the police conducted a search at the hospital but found no trace of the babies.
“The situation still haunts the entire family we need answers we never got a chance to even see what our babies looked like or even to know of their gender,” said the couple
Masvingo Provincial Hospital Superintendent, Dr Noel Zulu promised to call back several times when he was contacted for comment, but had not done so by time of publishing.
