Lilongwe family, workers demand tests to ascertain coronavirus status 

Some family members and workers of the man who recently died of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lilongwe are demanding that medical tests should be conducted on them to ascertain if they have contracted the virus or not.

Lilongwe City Council deputy mayor Richard Banda (in a face mask) raising hand signifying a vow to stand with the family and workers at Chilinde.-Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times

Yousuf Bassa – a brother to a Dudha – accused the Ministry of Health of deceiving the nation by saying they tested positive to the virus yet no tests were done on them.

“Of course, we can confirm that health workers came here. But they did not conduct any test on us. They simply collected our names and phone numbers, promising us that tests would be conducted later. But they haven’t returned to test us,” said Bassa.

His accusation comes barely a few days after a Nkhotakota-based COVID-19 suspect also raised an alarm over how the Malawi Government handled his illness.

In a voice note conversation with his relative, which has gone viral on the social media, the Nkhotakota COVID-19 suspect is accusing authorities at the Capital Hill of faking his illness for political reasons.

Bassa said it was sad that the Ministry of Health went ahead to announce that they tested positive to the virus when no tests were conducted on them.

“Let them come to test us! We have been waiting for them. As we are talking to you now, everyone is discriminating against us, calling us COVID-19 patients yet we have not been tested,” he complained.

One of the mechanics at the deceased’s garage, Sama Shaibue, disclosed they will consider seeking redress, saying the news has negatively impacted their profession as mechanics.

“We wonder what their motive is. How can they tell the nation that we have tested positive yet no tests have been conducted on us?” asked Shaibu.

The development has also not pleased Deputy Mayor of the Lilongwe City Council, Richard Banda, who is accusing authorities at the Ministry of Health of creating panic and anxiety in Area 21 where the deceased’s family lives.

Banda said it is unfortunate that professionals such as doctors have started working like politicians now.

“One wonders why they could come only to collect names and phone numbers when what these people needed most was to get tested. I condemn in strongest terms the actions taken by health workers on this matter. Of course, we are not disputing that COVID-1 is real, but government has failed us on this one,” he said.

In a WhatsApp interview with Nyasa Times on Thursday morning, Chief of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Charles Mwansambo, confirmed that doctors have not yet conducted medical tests on some family members and workers deceased businessman.

“The first group were immediate contacts. The second group is contacts of the positive contacts, and the cascading goes on. They will be [tested]. DHO Lilongwe is following up,” said Mwansambo.

The Ministry of Health spokesperson, Joshua Malango, told journalists in Lilongwe that the deceased had other underlying ailments.

On the other hand, the Secretary for Health, Dr Dan Namarika, warned Wednesday morning that the situation could worsen if no bold decision is made quickly to stop the spread of the pandemic in the country..

Namarika cautioned that based on the Kuunika Modelling of the virus pandemic, out of the 17 million population, Lilongwe could be the hardest hit with 1.5 million Covi-19 patients’ expected and 5 000 deaths.

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Citizen Number 1
Citizen Number 1
3 years ago

How has Namarika come up with the figure 5000? Is it the target they want to reach? Koma anthu inu, muziopa Mulungu!

john phiri
john phiri
3 years ago

this soo sad who you declear somebody sick by just hearing .infact am very disturbed with this and somebody must be accountable to this by misleading the whole nation and our president APM. lawyers of the victims should take it up

Phwisa
Phwisa
3 years ago

Govt should be serious with convid 19. And if some body presented fake reports to Jappie Mhango or Dr Namatika those people should be arrested now. Otherwise they are putting the Nation on fire. Jappie Mhango should be show us that he is a Minister

Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo
3 years ago

Nothing strange here for a party that tippexed its way into government. This is a party built on dishonesty. In case some are doubting, here are a few examples. We have not forgotten how Bingu outmaneuvered UDF to form DPP. UDF cried foul and all efforts to have him removed as he was elected on UDF’s ticket failed. Next Bingu creates a treason case for Cassim Chilumpha, Harry Thompson, Bakili Muluzu and many more who remained in UDF. It baffles me that after all what DPP did to UDF, some greedy UDF members think DPP makes a good partner for… Read more »

nyopani
nyopani
3 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Hebdo

what a wonderful comment. very much and much true

cinangwa bho
cinangwa bho
3 years ago

what else do we expext from the DPP idiots?? I mean after those ruling years’we “knew “him as he told us that his name was bingu’ .ok we believed and trusted his lips. he dies in mw. someone crafted to send the corpse to Joni and guess what, the corpse comes back under a different name and noone from the KIA immigration questions it. i guess sitinaike malilo aeni. okky now we got this one called pitala. he just landed from the US lets hope he came from there iindeed if its not crafted again.we dint know him and am… Read more »

Bob Finye
Bob Finye
3 years ago

MCP AT WORK THAT CAN’T SUCCEED

cinangwa bho
cinangwa bho
3 years ago

a cipatala kubwera pa
private vehicle
no ID
no tests done.
under the leadership of pitala and dausi on the side
ya ku Likoma game yoipa
ya ku area 36 kitenga ma fone number kuti muzabwera kuzawapatsa ma k35.000 no ID or police eskot
nde kupita za gonetu uki
nanuso mafumu mukulolela.

if these guys get mobbed!!!!

PLS DONT TAKE US AS FOOLS

Chinsapato cha Mrs Chakwera

Nyau ndikuzavina kuzavina pamenepaja. Fumbi mbwee. Ndikuzavina azimayi Kuyimba mokweza. Gule ndikuvina kuvina kuzadumpha m’malere. Kuzagwa pansi kuti phwaaa!!! Wamaayooo!! Ndakhalira phwala! That will be Chakweras fate. If he’s careful Chakwera must start wearing underwear. Stop this nonsense of politicising everything or risk becoming like John Tembo. 85% of Malawians are in rural areas and are closely watching. Not his paid vendors, actors and HRDC goons. Real Malawians with real issues. People with no access to even a clinic or health Center. People that don’t eat politics.This is how Bingu won his second term in landslide the people saw through… Read more »

Law
Law
3 years ago

The Drama in DPP will never end

Tisungane Wonga
Tisungane Wonga
3 years ago

Ma test a covid19 ngoopsatu. M’malo mongoyambiratu kumwa achina tumeric etc. Zichedwani

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