Reserve Bank of Malawi fire hoax causes panic at KCH

March 21, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 99 Comments

Tension, fear and anxiety gripped Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in the capital Lilongwe on Friday afternoon, when news spread that hospital was about to receive mass casualties from a fire accident at Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM).

Some hospital staff and other people keep a distance from the casualty ward
Some hospital staff and other people keep a distance from the casualty ward
Clinitians dash into an ambulance as another ambulance takes off.
Clinitians dash into an ambulance as another ambulance takes off.
Ready to serve- Nurses wait at the entrance to the casualty ward
Ready to serve- Nurses wait at the entrance to the casualty ward
Out patients and guardians watch the developments
Out patients and guardians watch the developments

Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff were seen panicking as hospital security personnel ordered vehicles and people hanging around the casualty ward car park off-the place in anticipation of the arrival of mass casualties from the said fire accident at Malawi’s central bank.

Clinicians were seen moving stretchers towards the car park while wearing gloves and aprons ready to wash blood. Some joined Ambulances that were rushed to the central bank to pick casualties.

As the doctors and nurses braced for a tough experience, patients, guardians and onlookers stood at a distance, speaking to each other in undertones.

Seconds, minutes then an hour passed without the casualties surfacing on the hospital yard and one of clinicians was overheard lambasting the management of Reserve Bank.

“It’s almost an hour since we got news about the fire accident but no single casualty is here. There is poor management of crises at the bank. Do they have to wait for ambulances to go and pick the casualties?” queried the clinician.

Some disgruntled clinicians chose to have a go at two photojournalists, including Nyasa Times photographer who were capturing images of the scene at the hospital yard.

After over an hour of anticipation, news started filtering in that it was just a hoax as some authorities wanted to test the hospital’s preparedness in case of major accidents.

This was confirmed when the ambulances that had been dispatched to city centre drove back without any casualties on board.

Lilongwe Police Public Relations officer Inspector Kingsley Dandaula confirmed it was just a hoax, aimed at testing the hospital’s preparedness in handling major accidents.

“This also happened at Kamuzu International Airport a couple of months ago. It was the same case at the hospital today and the Reserve Bank should be able to furnish you with more details,” said Dandaula.

Efforts to speak to the Reserve Bank spokesperson Mbane Ngwira proved futile but sources from the bank confided in Nyasa Times that it was a hoax.

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99 replies on “Reserve Bank of Malawi fire hoax causes panic at KCH”

  3. This is a normal procedure all over the world. Its called a fire drill. Not only at hospitals but it’s done at every workplace.

  8. No problem with this. the fact that they left other patience un attended to is a weakiness to deal with.
    They were testing those issues. Better we test them now and workout for weak areas. Than ignore

  10. I think I like that Action, it is advisable that such bell need to be rung to test the actions of people people in a working place !!!!!!

    I like that !!! it is Professional, shown by RBM

    Sharp !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. This is emergency drill and it happens world wide there is nothing wrong here unless if you dont know meaning of emergency evacuation drill

  13. Whoever started this kind of alertness was a big fool, don’t justify it because it happens else where else but logically it’s a nonsense type of alertness and in hospitals it’s a killing act some times the concerned parties will be sued for causing deaths that could not have happened without this stupid drill. The fact that it happens every where does not necessitate it’s relevance and in my Bible it written”don’t follow the crowd in doing wrong” and to say “even in uk this happens” this is a careless talk does the magnitude of wealth in the UK correspond with ours? We have too much in difference than in similarities them they have a lot to spare while we ourselves do have too little to to play around.

  14. Training gets wired. Don’t complain when clinicians sit idly in the wake of a real emergency.

  15. for sure…i once went to the casualty depart and whilst there a patient who in my view looked critical was not given any attention by the medics…i remember a nurse passing by just looking at the patient who was with his helpless relatives

  19. I STRONGLY AGREE WITH 61 AND 62. SUCH INITIATIVES SHOULD BE DONE PROPERLY AND WITH CARE AS NEXT TIME REAL PROBLEMS CAN BE IGNORED. HONESTLY IF I HAPPEN TO BE A CLINICIAN AND AM TOLD THAT THERE IS FIRE AT RESERVE BACK NEXT TIME I WILL COMPLETELY IGNORE IT AND PROCEED WITH OTHER DUTIES OR OPT FOR PERSONAL ASSIGNMENTS.

  20. In disaster preparedness this is called SIMULATION EXERCISE not a hoax. It is very central to running of any organization involved in disaster management like Ministry of health (KCH in this case), Red Cross, Military, Police, and Department of Disaster Management etc. I have participated in several of these simulation exercise only to be told it is not real but it always reveals gaps to be addressed. Such exercises have helped my organization to respond quickly. Unfortunately it require involvement of other sectors not only one organization. I remember when we were the first to support survivors of the KIPS disaster in Blantyre, other sectors were not ready.

  22. Nde kuti ma patients ena anasiidwa coz kufuna kuthandiza a ngozi mudaonongesa ma resources ochepachepawa plus fuel. Mubweze zimenezi. Wastage of resources

  27. ndi topic payokha imeneyi ku surgery. disaster management when hosp receives mass casualties, so it is supposed to be practiced, bravo kch, mwatsala mma district.

  30. Armenewo ndiye a Malawi. Bodaz, nsanje, kupha etc ndiye kufya kwawo. If you want to survive do likewise teach your kids the same. Tit-for-tat.

  31. ,MYEGHA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, says:

    Time wasted to attend other patient.Did RBM pay something for well done to hospital staffs?

  32. This is a FIRE DRILL and not a hoax as headlined. It is a normal exercise where national systems function properly as govt is trying to do through the reform programme

  33. This Is What We Call A System Failure Between This Two Government Parastatos.How Can The KCH Recelve The News That The RBM Has Caught Fire And There Is More Casualties Within The RBM Staff Members Whislt It Was Just Testing The Equipment.This Is Indeed What We Drama Apsolutly Completely And A Shame To The Nation.

  35. Fire drills are necessary but fire hoaxes and any hoax for that matter is a criminal offence in my books. My reading of this is that this was probably a fire drill either by the Reserve Bank or the KCH.

  37. This is not a hoax. It is simulation, like we do with fire drills. It was supposed to be preceded by a professional orientation and a summative discussion on preparedness. The trouble is that there was a good intention but the execution was poor. Izi muzitifunsako mukafuna kuti zichitike mwadongosolo lake. Otherwise you make people become indignant and resentful. The consequences can be dire.

  38. Its good koma chisakhale chizolowezi bcoz zeni zeni zikadzabwela anthu adzaona ngati zomwezi. Isaac nyasulu ku

  39. This happens even in millitary. So who are saying negative things about this should know that this is one way of checking if the hospital is capable of handling emergencies.This should be an anual drill

  40. Nothing wrong here agencies created to handle emergencies and crises need testingnthanks the management of the hospital for the good response

  42. Not just a hoax then sit down but an audit report must follow it. Big up! District hospitals be prepared as well.

  44. Every system must be tested. Even security, fire department, also our defence so we know where we stand. I like it.

  47. What a stupid hoax! instead for the doctors helping real patients in the hospital , they were just waiting outside for nothing. You never know may be some patients have died because of this nosense hoax, Pliz stop this childish behavior.

  48. Not good@ all.Find reliable means of attesting systems.Otherwise am afraid,one day life truely pass away in pretence of the so called “Testing Testing”

  52. These drills are normal. even institutional buildings should be tested on how, for example, to evacuate people in case of fire and where to assemble…. Its a common practice!
    Buildings also need fire alarms which should be tested every week as happens elsewhere!

    Malawi also need paramedic trained to handle accident victims on spot before taking them to hospital. This can serve many lives… imagine an accident in Mchinji and traveling all the way to Lilongwe before being attended to by a paramedic!

    THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO THINK OF PURCHASING AN AIR AMBULANCE! IF IT WERE ME, THE PROCEEDS OF THE JET COULD HAVE GONE TO PURCHASE OF AN AIR AMBULANCE, HELICOPTER. MALAWI NEEDS ONE AND NOT TODAY OR TMORO, BUT YESTERDAY!

  53. This is a regular exercise to test emergency preparedness. I once accidentally activated a distress signal on an aircraft that signalled a crash. We used that to test the preparedness of Queen Elizabeth Hospital to handle an airline crash emergency

  55. This is bad behviour. Mene amauzidwa ma doctors and nurses mkuti ali ndi zochita zina monga kuthandiza pa patient omwe mwinanso ndi a serious kuposa amene akanabwerawo. Koma anthuwo anasiidwa with aim yoti kukubwera angozi, Are you serious you graduate people? The whole of that big bank can you make poor joke like that? Why dont u tell the president that all his billions he declatred has been stolen, to see his reactions. Very bad.

  57. Never do that again….that wil deceive them in case of a real one…tikuziwa kenako u coming ku kwinzi….mukazangoerekeza kut moto uyambira pa nbs…..hehe mudzasova

  59. This is normal. These are drills to test emergency preparedness. Happens with teams that do handle emergencies; police, military, hospitals, airports, fire brigade etc. It also helps to check availability of emergency equipment.

  61. This is what is supposed to be done once in a while. Its called a drill in dissaster preparedness, to test the preparedness of the institution so that when the real thing happens the personnell have experiance of what to do in such a situation.It help in having better outcomes when the real thing happens.

  62. This is super. It must be replicated to all other Govt Agencies, the Army, Fire Brigade, Airports, Police stations, etc. Our friends conduct such drills daily not just annually. Lets love malawi always. Malawi ndi wathu. Osova malawi problems ndi ifeyo.

  64. In emergency management you dont call that a hoax but a drill or simulation exercise. It is practiced in every country that has emergency systems to test its preparedness. For your information, a similar exercise was conducted at KCH last year by the MDF and other players to test the hospital’s preparedness in terms of an aviation disaster and found that the hospital couldnt handle a major disaster. We need to be doing sucj drills frequently and we should appreciate why they are done than blaming others.

  67. THIS SEEMS STUPID BUT ITS REALLY HELPFUL. IT A DRILL THAT HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN AND AGAIN AS IT REMINDS PEOPLE OF THEIR ROLES IN EMERGENCIES. GOOD JOB AND KEEP IT UP.

  68. don’t worry guys, this z pure part of their profession, whether its true or not they must b ready. this also help the organization to know their weakness and strength.

  70. This is good. The army and police also do this. It tests systems. I hope there will be feedback to the staff on how they have been rated in terms of their response to the situation.

  71. This is what is called simulation! You simulate an emergency or disaster to test how prepared respective officers for concerned departments are in responding to emergency. Nothing is wrong here. RBM should be commended for subjecting their staff + medical personal to such scenario.

  75. AMBULANCESES WERE WAITING AT THE HOSPITAL FOR HOURS WITHOUT RUSHIG TO THE SCENCE OF ANCIDENT? HOW DID YOU THINK RBM WAS GOING TO FERRY PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL?

  76. This is a normal procedure to prepare the hospital in case of emergency. We used to call it Red Alert. Perfectly normal and well done KCH management for such a drill. During Kamuzu time it was done every 4 months in all major hospitals.

  78. THAT IS NORMAL, EVEN IN THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS THOSE WHO MATTER IT IS THERE ;;;;;;;;;;;; WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP ========== REBELS ARE AT KANININA MOUNTAINE, ZOMBA MOUNTAIN, DEDZA MOUNTAINS, LILONGWE FOREST AND KASUNGU MUNTHUTHAMA BUSHES !!!!!!! EVERYBODY GET READY. THIS MAKES TO BE ALETED.

  79. Great drill! I hope all the systems can now sit and assess how ready they are. If this was happening all the time, Bingu wouldnt have died and we would be without fuel and forex till today.

  80. Ngozi sitimayeserera. please avoid this. some doctors will leave scissors in the stomaches of patients in haste to serve others coming .

  81. Very commendable! We should test our preparedness before accidents happen. Next try the fire brigade

  82. muzawapangeso ku army ndi ku police azanena kuti galimoto yapita kokatuta mchenga wa abwana omangira den yawo

  86. Malawi! Preparedness of cheating doctors. Do accidents occur in central hospitals only. What about staff shortages.Better assessment should be done during really accidents not hoax. I think the whole country needs to be hoaxed, i saw how floods were handled, thanks to our neighbours.

  87. goods(money) has been wasted at KCH…..atabweze ndani katundu oonongekayo coz it has not bn put to its proper use.

  90. We call that a Simulation Exercise! Its normally done to test the preparedness of an institution to handle emergencies! The aim is to address shortfalls that are identified, so that when a really situation occurs people and officers should know what to do.

  91. The continuity of business operations has to be tested. If preparedness is not going to be tested then things may go from bad to worse in case of emergencies. All institutions need this and it has to be well documented and shared with all.

  95. Comment respect and other ppl and pls lets avoid this cz u might cause sum problemz myb some docters wre on duty n bz wit petients then wt this may endup in bad stuation that can’t b controlled.AVOID THIS PLS!!!!

  96. This is what we call disaster preparedness drill its supposed to be done annually in major accident prone places to check preparedness of all essential services like hospitals, police, redcross, aviation, and firebrigade, St John ambulance you even check who very responsive urgently in such issues

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