Family loses three in 2 days to typhoid

Nothing can describe the pain of seeing one’s wife and daughter buried in one grave.

But 53-year-old Isaki Sathula from Dzimbiri Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Ganya in Ntcheu District has seen it all and is consequently in shock after losing a wife, daughter and grandson within two days.

“Hospital officials have given us results as to the cause of the death. It is typhoid fever,” he told Nation on Sunday.

Sathula said it all started on March 12 this year when his daughter Gladys, 13, complained of stomach pains.

“I took her to Kasinje Health Centre for medical treatment. While there, I was told that my wife had gone to Ntcheu District Hospital with our grandson Sofati Dausi as he was also not feeling well,” he said.

The Standard Seven girl at Mpatsa Primary School was treated as an outpatient but Sofati, 6, was admitted to Ntcheu District Hospital.

“I returned home in the evening and planned to see my grandson at Ntcheu District Hospital in the morning, but I was delayed as Gladys’s pains recurred at night. She was now vomiting,” said Sathula.

He said when he arrived at Ntcheu District Hospital late on March 13, he was told that Sofati had died and his wife Felemesi Dakolako, 46, was now unwell and admitted.

“We took the remains of Sofati for burial back home leaving my wife on the hospital bed. While burying him, we received a call that my wife had died,” lamented Sathula.

He said they left Gladys at the house of their pastor so that she should not know about her mother’s death.

On March 14, as they were preparing to bury his wife, Sathula got more bad news from the pastor that Gladys’ condition had worsened.

“We rushed her to Luntha Clinic in Golomoti but it was too late as we lost her. Upon arrival, she was vomiting blood,” he said.

According to Sathula, this happened when her mother’s body was in a caoffin ready to be buried

“A decision was made to bury them in one grave. This was agreed upon looking at the time to prepare another grave.

“This was my first time seeing people buried in one grave and it happened to my wife and daughter … .unforgettable memories. Why has this happened to me?”  he wondered

Sathula, a father to three girls, has a lot of unanswered questions on the calamity that has befallen his family.

Some close relatives and community members are now avoiding him for fear of contracting the disease.

“At least hospital officials could come and explain to villagers how this infection can be spread and how to avoid it. Otherwise I have a great fear of what will happen next,” he said.

Village Head Dzimbiri is worried, too. He said they have never experienced such a tragedy.

“It is shocking. I am at a loss for words. This means we have this deadly disease around. We need the hospital direction over the matter,” he said.

On his part, group village head Chifwiri said he will report the matter to T/A Ganya to solicit government’s help.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe said they have not received any report about typhoid fever

Ntcheu District Hospital director of health and social services Dr. Emily Jenyarefused to comment without family consent.  

Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe thinks Malawi has not done enough to record typhoid fever.

“It is not surprising to see most public hospitals stick to malaria as the problem, which means there is need for health awareness. There is typhoid vaccine introduced in Malawi targeting children,” he said. 

Jobe said typhoid fever is a waterborne disease.

“Typhoid fever spreads through water and vegetables,” he said.