21 June 2019

The KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu is shocked to learn that one of the patients admitted at UMphumulo hospital decided to take his own life yesterday, June 20.

This after Mhlabunzima Khambule aged 42 years who was admitted at the institution on the 14th of June 2019; having been diagnosed and being well managed by doctors and staff decided to lose hope and took his own life.

The nurse in charge of the Ward started looking for him after he had taken too long to return to his bed, with other patients also thinking that he had gone to the loo. Khambule was subsequently found in the sluice room where he had locked himself in and used the garments to hang himself.

MEC Simelane-Zulu pleads with patients to be resilient and put their trust in hands of the health professionals who are there to serve them, saying:

“ No matter what your ailment is, give doctors and nurses a chance to attend to you. There is no disease that is a death sentence; some of the health problems that inflict our populace are totally curable whilst others are able to be managed to the extent that a patient continues to live longer and carry on taking care of his or her brethren.”

The matter has been reported to the Stanger Police and they will advise on their findings