News / Education
Hospital staff in patients abuse storm
30 Aug 2015 at 15:08hrs | Views
Photo: ©Travel With Us To Africa
OLD Mutare Mission Hospital is in the eye of a storm amid revelations that some medical personnel at the United Methodist Church-run infirmary are ill-treating patients, with the latest case being of a 10-year-old boy who was last weekend allegedly subjected to physical abuse.
The patient (name withheld) was admitted at the hospital after sustaining deep injuries following a fire incident at his parents' home recently.
The boy is lucky to be alive after umbers fell from a baking pot onto the blankets where he was sleeping. He sustained serious burns on both legs and left hand fingers.
His physical abuse at the hands of Old Mutare Hospital staff members was more like jumping from a frying pan into a fire as it is alleged that his parents took time to send him to hospital citing religious beliefs. He was only taken to hospital when his condition deteriorated.
Hospital Medical Superintendent, Tendai Manyeza, said he had also received an anonymous call from a person who raised the same allegations about the boy's abuse.
"I have heard about that case. Someone who could not identify himself called me telling me the same thing that you are talking about. We will look into the matter to ascertain if it is true. Since we are short staffed, I earlier on requested that one of the relatives or his mother would stay around near the patient. I would really want to know who the person (nurse aide) could be," said Manyeza.
He added that it was their first time to receive such news concerning ill-treatment of patients at the institution.
The boy's mother, Tambudzai, said although she came a few days after the incident, she realised James was in pain and could often cry particularly during bath times.
The boy confirmed the abuse in the presence of her mother and the news crew that he was indeed beaten by one nurse aide whose identity could not be readily attained.
"I sometimes cry because it will be painful when the nurses attend to my wounds. One of them beat me up once," said the visibly pained Mundenda Primary School pupil.
The patient (name withheld) was admitted at the hospital after sustaining deep injuries following a fire incident at his parents' home recently.
The boy is lucky to be alive after umbers fell from a baking pot onto the blankets where he was sleeping. He sustained serious burns on both legs and left hand fingers.
His physical abuse at the hands of Old Mutare Hospital staff members was more like jumping from a frying pan into a fire as it is alleged that his parents took time to send him to hospital citing religious beliefs. He was only taken to hospital when his condition deteriorated.
Hospital Medical Superintendent, Tendai Manyeza, said he had also received an anonymous call from a person who raised the same allegations about the boy's abuse.
He added that it was their first time to receive such news concerning ill-treatment of patients at the institution.
The boy's mother, Tambudzai, said although she came a few days after the incident, she realised James was in pain and could often cry particularly during bath times.
The boy confirmed the abuse in the presence of her mother and the news crew that he was indeed beaten by one nurse aide whose identity could not be readily attained.
"I sometimes cry because it will be painful when the nurses attend to my wounds. One of them beat me up once," said the visibly pained Mundenda Primary School pupil.
Source - Manicapost
