The Ministry of Health will investigate a case where a nurse fainted and the baby she was attending to fell and suffered a cut lip.

The Assistant Minister for  Health and Medical Services, Veena Bhatnagar, confirmed the incident last Friday. A nurse had fainted while examining the six-week-old baby.

“We are really sorry for what had happened. It is really sad and we sympathise and apologise for any grievances and problems faced by the family,” she said.

The matter has been referred to sub-divisional medical officer, Francis Vulivuli, and awaits a report on the incident.

The incident happened at the Post Natal clinic at Ro Qomate House in Labasa.The baby’s mother, Nafiza Nisha, 23, of Bocalevu, Labasa, was at the clinic.

“When I heard about this case I immediately spoke to Mrs Nisha and yesterday we arranged a doctor to do a full body check-up of the baby to which the parents confirmed and was satisfied with the service and returned home,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

Mrs Nisha recalled: “My mother and I were watching the nurse administering the immunisation. After few minutes we saw the nurse started fainting and pulling the linen on which my baby was lying on. Within seconds my baby rolled down with the linen onto the floor.

“When I questioned the other nurses to explain what happened they said the nurse had been sick for a few days but was at work.

“If the nurse is sick, why is she attending to other patients, especially babies?”

When she tried to breast feed her baby she noticed that the baby’s upper lip was swollen and she continued to cry.

“I was afraid and upset by the service and reported the matter at the Labasa Police Station who then took me to the Labasa Hospital to get my baby’s medical report,” she said.

Police spokesperson Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri confirmed receiving a complaint.

Work ethics

Sub-divisional medical officer Vulivuli revealed the said nurse had some medical history and based on her knowledge the nurse was supposed to look after the administration section.

“We are still trying to find out why she was serving the patient when she was supposed to be at the admin desk,” she said.

Ms Bhatnagar said appropriate action would be taken.

“If the nurse was not well she should not have been rostered to provide services to any patient. The staff in charge will certainly be dealt with,” she said.

“If something of this sort happened the normal procedure for the staff would have been to immediately make arrangements for a full check-up of the baby by a doctor.

“The baby should have been kept under observation as well.”

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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