Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang’s condition is ”improving speedily”, her spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said on Monday.
”The minister remains in a high-care unit at the Johannesburg General Hospital where she was admitted on Tuesday February 20,” he said.
Tshabalala-Msimang is being treated for anaemia and pleural effusion [an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity — a fluid-filled space surrounding the lungs]. She has already undergone a blood transfusion.
Tshabalala-Msimang’s doctor, Professor Jeff Wing, told the South African Press Association late last week that the minister had consulted with a specialist for blood loss, related to a condition occurring frequently amongst elderly women, two weeks before she was admitted.
A week beforehand she was fatigued and had difficulty breathing.
”On admission, it was evident that she was significantly anaemic — a condition indicating a reduction in the number of red blood cells, which are responsible for the transmission of oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the human body.”
Wing said the condition contributed to manifest symptoms that required blood transfusion to reverse the anaemia.
”It was therefore necessary and appropriate to place her in a high-care ward to facilitate appropriate haemodynamic monitoring.”
He said his patient had visited the hospital on several occasions, both as the health minister and a patient requiring assessment and treatment, particularly for allergic asthma.
In October last year, Tshabalala-Msimang received therapy for pneumonia that was complicated by pleural effusion, said Wing.
No decision on replacement
Meanwhile, President Thabo Mbeki has not yet made a decision on whether to appoint an acting health minister while Tshabalala-Msimang is in hospital, his spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said on Monday.
”The president has the prerogative to appoint or relieve any minister of his or her duties and regarding the health minister, the president has not said anything yet,” Ratshitanga said.
When a decision is made, the government will issue a statement, he said.
Last week the Health Department requested to have an acting minister appointed while Tshabalala-Msimang is in hospital.
On Saturday, Mngadi confirmed that they had approached Mbeki to appoint an acting minister as the department was experiencing difficulties without any leadership.
”We are continuing, although it is difficult for us without leadership.
”However, there are discussions with the presidency to look at the issue of appointing an acting minister, which we hope will be another person who is currently a minister,” said Mngadi. — Sapa