Child embedded with needles in body to be operated on January 7
By Staff Reporter
Health minister Chitalu Chilufya says an operation on the child embedded with needles and wires in his body will be conducted on January 7, 2019.
And Government has directed Kawambwa District Commissioner Ivo Mpasa to immediately start a process of obtaining a Court Order to take full parental responsibility of the former co-joined twins, Bupe and Mapalo.
Richard Zulu aged three, who is undergoing specialized treatment at University Teaching Hospital (UTH) was evacuated from Chipata Central Hospital on December 9, last year following a directive from President Edgar Lungu.
Dr. Chilufya has disclosed in an interview with ZANIS that Surgeons at UTH are set to carry out an operation on the minor.
“The child who earlier had 44 needles in his body, had 25 of them removed at Chipata General Hospital. Following the recommended weight gain by the Hospital management before the operation could be done, the remaining 19 needles would hopefully be removed next week on Monday,” said Chilufya
And Dr. Chilufya has disclosed that investigations are under way for a male nurse in Southern Province who allegedly uttered tribal remarks on a named mother who was nursing a baby.
“I have regretted the incident and am urging health personnel to exhibit high levels of professionalism in line with their calling of serving patients,” he said
Meanwhile, Government has directed Mpasa to immediately start a process of obtaining a Court Order to take full parental responsibility of the former co-joined twins, Bupe and Mapalo.
It is reported that the parents of the twins have allegedly neglected Bupe and Mapalo who have been admitted in Kawambwa district hospital for over three weeks for unknown reasons.
Speaking when Ronald Chitotela, the infrastructure minister visited the twins, Kawambwa District Medical Director Arthur Mataka revealed that the parents of the twins have not visited them since they were admitted some three weeks ago.
“Despite sending transport to pick them up, the twins’ parents declined to come prompting the hospital to employ a caretaker who is looking after the two babies. The only reason given by the twins’ parents were that the mother was busy looking after a newly-born baby while the father was busy farming,” said Mataka
Dr Mataka said the twins were admitted after one of them, Mapalo, had malaria.
“Apart from malaria, the twins were also suffering from malnutrition,” said Dr Mataka, adding that the hospital was still keeping them to improve their nutrition levels.
He however expressed disappointment with the ailing twins’ parents’ absence and negligent behaviour.
And disappointed Chitotela directed Mpasa to start a process of obtaining a Court Order so that government could take full responsibility of the twins by and ensure that their welfare was taken care of.
“It is sad that the parents had neglected the twins adding that government will now be forced to take custody of them. I am happy with the hospital staff for taking care of the twins and assuring you of my full support,” said Chitotela
He said government had offered employment to the twins’ father but he declined saying he wanted to be in the village farming.
