Reserve Bank of Malawi fire hoax causes panic at KCH

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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muluda chisomo
8 years ago

fire drill ofcourse very important safety issue

prince
prince
8 years ago

Were koma amalawi okha zonsezi ndi cash gate

Wailing Soul
Wailing Soul
8 years ago

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.

chejali
chejali
8 years ago

Zaziiiiiiiiii

Chisomo khomera
8 years ago

Azikhala okonzeka indeed.

Njolinjo
Njolinjo
8 years ago

That is the best way to test our hospital’s competence. There was nothing wrong.

mwana wa kukaya
mwana wa kukaya
8 years ago

tinapezerapo mwayi okalowa ku reserve mosavuta. uli apo?

yotamu
yotamu
8 years ago

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

Paul
Paul
8 years ago

and that is what we learn in healthy and safety !!

Paul
Paul
8 years ago

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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