Death trap in public hospitals
The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has exposed a death trap in some public hospitals where unqualified personnel administer drugs to patients.
Nice Trust Mangochi district civic education officer Turner Banda said the trend should be a source of worry to government and need to be stopped forthwith as it puts the lives of patients in danger.
Banda sounded the warning on Friday at Chimwala Teacher Development Centre (TDC) in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimwala after assessing the plight of patients at Kukalanga Health Centre.
During the visit, it was learnt that non-medical personnel such as security guards and ground labourers are left to attend to patients and administer medicines at the centre.
Banda added that it is gross negligence on the part of government to have allowed the situation to reach such levels where unqualified personnel are allowed to attend to patients and administer medicines.
One woman from Mwalija Village who chose not to be named said she regretted having attended Kukalanga Health Centre as a ground labourer crudely pierced her thumb with a needle when she wanted to have a malaria test.
The woman said people around the health facility develop complications and some have died due to the wrong prescription by the unqualified personnel.
Responding to the call to put the malpractice to an end, the health centre’s medical assistant, Daniel Masiyawo, speaking on behalf of the district health officer, said the procedure is indeed flouted, but shortage of staff forces them to do it.
