Woman in unassisted child birth: Pangs of CHAM nurses strike

A strike by medical workers under the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) has started manifesting its nasty stint with a woman delivering without any medical help at Mlanda Health Centre in Ntcheu Friday.

Tiyamike Haswell, 21, ended her nine months of sweet pain without a midwife at her side.

“When we arrived they told us that they could not help me because they were on strike,” said Haswell.

She further confided in local press that “it was a horrendous experience.”

According to Haswell, her mother, Jennifer Wesile, 51, is the one who aided her delivery.

“But it was frustrating because we had walked with difficulties for over two hours thinking that we would get help,” she said.

Haswell, who delivered a baby boy, said she was happy that she and her child were in good health.

Ntcheu District Hospital spokesperson Stella Kawalala said she was not aware of the situation.

She pledged she would dig into the matter to establish what transpired.

The workers, who are also members of the National Organization for Nurses and Midwives (NONM), Thursday downed tools indefinitely over deplorable salaries and working conditions after government had failed to honour their seven-day ultimatum.

The nurses are demanding, apart from robust leave grant packages and allowances, for a 45 per cent pay rise.