Madam,
The dangers at Mbabane Government Hospital became clear when the maternity ward experienced a power cut that lasted for an hour. This incident exposed how fragile health services become when electricity fails, especially in a facility where lives depend on uninterrupted power supply. Mothers in labour, newborn babies and medical staff faced an uncertain situation that placed lives at risk.
Hospitals depend on reliable electricity for the functioning of medical equipment. In a maternity ward, this includes incubators, monitors, surgical lights and machines that assist in delivering babies safely. When power goes out, doctors and nurses are left without the tools they need to carry out procedures. In the recent incident, staff had to continue their work under difficult conditions, with limited medical supplies. Every minute without power increased the danger for mothers and infants.
Although hospitals are usually equipped with backup generators, the fact that the maternity ward was left without electricity for an hour raised questions about the state of emergency preparedness. Generators exist to prevent exactly this type of crisis, yet the delay in restoring power suggested possible failure, either in maintenance or in activation. Patients and their families who depend on the hospital for safe delivery of children were left exposed to unnecessary risks.
Power cuts do not only disrupt immediate medical care, but also compromise the safety of drugs and blood stored in refrigerators, as well as the operation of sterilisation equipment. Any lapse in these areas can cause long-term harm.
At Mbabane Government Hospital, the hour-long outage meant that systems designed to protect patients were suspended and staff were forced to rely on limited alternatives. Such conditions are not compatible with safe healthcare.
The incident also raised concerns about communication and preparedness during emergencies. In a maternity ward, where emotions are already high, uncertainty over whether mothers and babies will survive can be devastating. The psychological toll of witnessing such an event cannot be ignored.
The safety of patients in public health institutions requires constant planning. Hospitals must be ready for any eventuality, including sudden power outages. The experience at Mbabane Government Hospital has shown that even a single hour without power can create a situation where lives hang in the balance. In a country where many people cannot afford private hospitals, public institutions remain the only option for the majority. The reliability of services in these facilities, therefore, carries weight for the health of the nation.
Health professionals continue to serve under difficult conditions, yet they cannot perform their duties effectively if they are deprived of the necessary support systems. Expecting doctors and nurses to deliver babies in near-darkness or without functioning machines is unfair to both staff and patients. Medical expertise alone cannot save lives without the tools that modern health care demands.
This power cut must serve as a lesson in the importance of functional infrastructure within hospitals. Back-up systems should be maintained regularly and tested to ensure they work when needed. The hospital administration must also put in place clear protocols to manage patients during such crises, to reduce panic and ensure safety.
Mothers in labour, newborn babies and medical staff faced an uncertain situation that placed lives at risk. (Pic: Sourced from The Colorado Sun, for illustrative purposes only)
