Police in Zomba have arrested a laboratory technician at Zomba Central Hospital for allegedly stealing medical equipment and consumables worth about K6.1 million.
The suspect, Ian Kambwala, 32, from Laiti Village, Traditional Authority Bvumbwe in Thyolo District, was arrested on Wednesday following investigations into theft reported earlier this week by the hospital’s laboratory manager Hasting Kwalira.
According to a police progress report, officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) led by detective Lonjezo Maalo conducted a search at Kambwala’s home in Sadzi Township where they recovered a large quantity of stolen laboratory equipment and supplies.
The recovered items included microscopes, glucometers, test kits for HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis and malaria, centrifuges, magnetic stirrers, transformers, and a projector, all of which were positively identified by hospital officials as property of Zomba Central Hospital.
Police say investigations are underway to recover the remaining stolen items.
Kambwala is expected to appear in court soon to face charges of theft by a public servant.
A report of ‘Detecting and deterring medication theft: A field study in health clinics in Malawi’ says with 35 percent of medicines missing between Central Medical Stores and final clinics, theft appears to substantially impact health access with patients experiencing more stockouts and spending more in purchasing drugs from pharmacies.
