In A bizarre case that has puzzled both medical staff and police officers in Chipata, a three-year-old boy has been found with 36 needles imbedded in his body.
The boy, who is from Muchini township in Chipata, is admitted to Chipata Central Hospital.
Chipata Central Hospital senior medical superintendent Mbinga Mbinga described the condition of the boy as stable.
Dr Mbinga said one needle was removed; however, the boy could not be operated on to remove all the needles because he is severely malnourished.
And the boy’s teenage mother,
Rosemary Jere, who is in a polygamous marriage, said she does not know how her son got pricked with the needles.Rosemary is 19 years old and dropped out of school in Grade Three. Eastern Province commissioner of
police Lackson Sakala said the boy has been hospitalised for over two weeks now.

Mr Sakala said the boy’s mother took him to the hospital after noticing that he was unwell and was losing weight. He said after an X-ray was taken of the boy, it showed that he had several needles in his body.

It was then that the mother of the boy was advised to report the matter to police.“It is so sad and strange that people with evil intentions can prick a boy with over 30 needles,” Mr Sakala said. Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo said it was sad that the
boy had to suffer and undergo such pain but is hopeful that doctors at Chipata Central Hospital will successfully remove
the needles.

He asked police to intensify investigations into the matter.