Chawama Clinic Staff under fire

By Ann Zulu

MEDICAL staff at Chawama Clinic in Lusaka have come under fire over a wide range of unprofessional conduct stretching from extortion to harassment of patients.

The patients who expressed disgust at the manner in which the health institution was being run, accused the staff of causing emotional trauma to patients who visited the Clinic in need of medical attention.

                                        Chawama Clinic

An elderly woman who identified herself as Nakulu Mubanga told this reporter that the health facility had been transformed into a disaster area, with nurses being the chief culprits.

“We spent almost the entire day queuing only to be told that 

there is no medicine and we have to look for it elsewhere. I am 69 years old and terribly ill, where do I get the energy and money to buy medicine? This Clinic is no longer the way it used to be in those days, nurses are rude,” she lamented.

Another patient Mutinta Hakalima, who recently gave birth from the clinic, accused nurses operating from the maternity ward of harassing women in the ward.

She called on government to send health inspectors to inspect the ward frequently and take stern action against the culprits.

“I gave birth at the clinic two weeks ago, I went there hoping that I will be helped to give birth to my baby by experts, but I was shocked by the way I was treated together with other women.

“The nurses were rude; we were not given the attention we needed. It was a horrible experience and I think government should start inspecting the wards and see how women are treated by the so-called nurses,”

But Lusaka Provincial Medical Officer Kennedy Malama assured that patients and members of the public that his office would investigate the matter further.

Dr. Malama said it was the mandate of the health sector to provide quality health services to the people

He implored members of the public to alert government on such irregularities at public health institutions.

“Such feedback from the people is important, because we use it on how we can continuously improve health services provisions. We will investigate this issue and culprits will be dealt with, so it is important thatwe area informed of any irregularities at public health institutions,” Dr.Malama said.