A fatal delay in medical care at Mwanza District Hospital has led to an official investigation after an expectant mother lost her unborn child, according to Zoona Zenizeni. The woman, who had travelled from Kunenekude, was reportedly denied immediate treatment because she could not pay a K100,000 fee demanded by hospital staff. This occurred despite the facility operating under a strict government policy of free public healthcare.
According to the report, health workers demanded the money because the patient had not registered for antenatal services at the hospital and wrongly assumed she was a citizen of neighbouring Mozambique. While her relatives rushed to raise the funds, the woman was left unattended. By the time medical staff intervened, the baby had already died in the womb. Following the incident, hospital personnel returned K90,000 to the family but kept K10,000 as a service deduction.
Mwanza District Medical Officer Anthony Chafunya confirmed the incident and announced that a formal probe is underway, Zoona Zenizeni reports. Chafunya stated that disciplinary action will be taken against any personnel found violating medical ethics and government policies. Minister of Health Madalitso Baloyi has also launched a wider official probe into the negligence and corruption allegations at the facility, according to Maravi Post.