Probe launched into clinic's handling of TB case after young girl's death
Seawinds Clinic, where a mother sought help for her daughter’s tuberculosis diagnosis, leading to a tragic outcome and an ongoing investigation into healthcare practices.
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A grieving Hillview mom says the last few months have been a nightmare after her 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and later died a day after Eid.
Tasneem Cader said she first noticed something was wrong with her daughter, Shabeera Matthews, in December when the girl's behaviour and eating habits changed.
Cader explained: “In December, I noticed that her eating habits changed.
“I then took her to the Seawinds Clinic on December 30 and explained to them that she is losing weight, she is not eating how she used to eat and she is forever tired.
“Then they took a sputum test and I got a SMS with the results on 6 January that it was negative for TB.”
Cader said after receiving the notification that perhaps it wasn’t as severe as what she had thought; however, later in January, Shabeera’s condition took a turn for the worse.
The concerned mom went back to the clinic for another test and asked for a referral letter as she wanted a second opinion.
Cader adds: “I took her to Victoria Hospital and explained her symptoms and that she was coughing. They took a TB test, a blood test, and X-rays, and that’s when they saw TB on her lungs.
“They told me to come back the following Wednesday, and they confirmed that it was TB and gave her treatment.”
Cader said that as she walked home on March 12, she got the second SMS results from Seawinds saying that the test was negative again, which she couldn’t understand, as Victoria confirmed the diagnosis and placed her on treatment.
She then probed the clinic; they allegedly told her that her daughter couldn’t give a proper sputum test as she was unable to spit, but questioned why they took a second test.
Matthews sadly passed away on March 22, leaving her mother with heartache and distrust in the clinic.
The Western Cape Health Department referred Cape Argus sister publication, the Daily Voice to the City of Cape Town, which administers the clinic.
The City confirmed it is investigating the incident, saying: “The City confirms that the matter will be investigated in line with established procedures.”