Foreign Kids' Health at Risk

Newborns: Missing Life-Saving Vaccines as Mothers Are Turned Away at Clinics

- Kimberly Mutandiro

Newborn babies, whose mothers were turned away at clinics in Joburg because they are not South African, are missing out on life-saving vaccines.

Vigilante group Operation Dudula has been controlling queues at clinics, chasing away immigrants or telling them to stand separately from citizens.

It is alleged that some health care staff have been participating despite a 2023 high court ruling that pregnant and lactating women and children should be granted free health care services, regardless of their nationality.

The court ordered the Gauteng department of health to place notices on the walls at all facilities stating lactating women and children may not be denied access. But this order is not being consistently complied with.