Maternity hospitals in terrible condition

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

One woman waited one and a half hours at the hospital, only to see a nurse who yelled that she was "lying about being in labour". Three hours later, her baby was stillborn. Another woman gave birth on the street, steps away from a clinic that twice turned her away, saying her time had not come.

South Africa's maternal mortality rate has quadrupled, while most African countries have improved theirs, according to a scathing report released Monday by the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

For example, at least three South African hospitals are being investigated for baby deaths, including one where 29 babies died within a few weeks in January, apparently from a superbug. The hospital had no gloves, disinfectant spray, soap or toilet paper.

Several other women recalled nurses telling them to "shut up" during labour, saying they had enjoyed the sex that made them pregnant so they should not complain about labour pains.

"All South Africa's good intentions, policies and strategies on paper won't save women's lives without strong accountability systems to make sure policies are carried out," Agnes Odhiambo, the chief researcher for the HRW project, told The Associated Press.