NONM condemns mob justice
Nurses’ houses damaged, maize fields destroyed. Loss is worth millions of Kwachas. NONM laments victimization of nurses and midwives.
The National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (NONM) has condemned the reaction of the mob to the death of a 19-year-old boy at Rumphi district hospital.
The boy who was supposed to be tested for COVID-19 before being treated died in the waiting.
This made people angry and they started a commotion. A few moments later, they were all over torching hospital tents, damaging health workers’ houses and destroying their maize fields.
Bwanalori Mwamlima, spokesperson for Rumphi district hospital confirmed the incident.
He said: “It’s true there was commotion following the death of a person at the hospital. The other information that I have is from the grapevine, so give me time for official response.”
Properties worth millions of Kwachas were damaged following the incident.
Speaking in an interview, the NONM north zone chairperson, Phoebe Magawa, said NONM officials had dialogue with leaders from the hospital and community where the issue was discussed.
She said: “We felt if things had gone wrong there was a proper channel of dealing with such issues because a hospital does not only handle one person but a group of people.”
NONM specially lamented the fact that nurses are often victimized even if they are not the ones who have done wrong. In the Rumphi saga most of the houses damaged and fields destroyed belong to nurses and midwives.
“Unfortunately, none of the nurses was part of this incident when the patient was being sent back and forth for the COVID test. Nurses just became victims of this situation because none of them was involved in dealing with the boy whom we lost,” added Pheobe.
During the dialogue with the District Commissioner an agreement to maintain the damaged health workers’ houses was arrived at. Meanwhile the maintenance is yet to be done.