Health workers allege witchcraft, threaten to leave
Medical staff at Sankhulani Health Centre in East Bank, Nsanje, have threatened to leave due to ‘strange things’ they claim are signs of witchcraft, the facility’s medical assistant Patrick Tebulo has confirmed.
The facility, located in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlolo, has since reopened barely a week after its closure amid witchcraft allegations.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Tebulo expressed concern over the ‘torment’ staff and their children are being subjected to.
He said his child, together with the child of another member of staff, a Mr Kamfose, fainted three times at school.
“The circumstances are mysterious. One morning a nurse was found naked outside her house while another nurse lost her sight temporarily while attending to a woman in labour,” he said.
Nsanje district health officer (DHO) Alexander Chijuwa confirmed the situation, saying his office met traditional leaders, including T/A Mlolo and the centre’s Health Advisory Committee on the issue.
“We told communities that what is happening should stop in two weeks time, or the DHO will withdraw all the members of staff,” said Chijuwa.
According to Tebulo, the facility was also closed in 2007 and reopened the same year on the same grounds.
