3-year-old boy who was found with 44 needles in his body has been evacuated to Lusaka for specialised care and treatment after an order from President Edgar Lungu. President Lungu ordered the immediate evacuation of Richard Zulu, who was recently found with needles and sharp wires in his body, from Chipata Central Hospital to the University Teaching Hopsital (UTH). Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya, who led a specialised medical team from UTH, was accompanied by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Chipata Central Member

Dr Chilufya said yesterday in Chipata that the President is concerned about the welfare of the boy, hence the directive for the boy’s immediate evacuation to the UTH for specialised treatment and care. “The President is happy with the team work that has been exhibited by the medical team here in Chipata. This is the first case in Zambia where foreign multiple objects have been introduced in the body of a malnutrition child,” he said.

He said timely medical intervention has saved the boy, who has needles and sharp wires measuring between 3 to 17 centimetres.
Dr Chilufya displayed some of the 25 needles removed from his body with a warning to the community to avoid negative traditional ritual practices like using needles to cure ailments.

He said no-one should prick a child as a means of treatment because the hospital is the first place to visit when one is sick.
He said the Ministry of Health would work with traditional, church and community leaders to sensitise people on dangers of using rituals as a cure of ailments.

He said preliminary investigations have shown that the sewing needles and sharp wires were introduced into the body by unknown people who were conducting unknown ritual practices. He said the foreign objects were introduced for a long time as evident from the multiple healed wounds. He said it was traumatising for the boy, who was pricked with foreign objects which were introduced into the body for ritual purposes.

Dr Chilufya said President Lungu has constituted a team of doctors and ministers to look into the case, hence the evacuation of the boy to UTH.
He said with the modernisation of the health sector, Government has invested in equipment and training of more doctors who are able to handle any complicated case.

He said the boy would be treated within the country and the remaining needles will be removed at UTH when his nutritional status improves further.
He said some remaining needles and sharp wires are near the liver, a situation he described as abnormal.
Dr Chilufya said the boy is out of danger and is able to eat and walk by himself.

Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe commended the spirit of teamwork that was exhibited by doctors and the other medical team at Chipata Central Hospital.

Mr Sikazwe said President Lungu is happy with the work done by the Chipata Central Hospital doctors and nurses for saving the life of the boy.
Chipata Central Member of Parliament Moses Mawere and his Kasenengwa counterpart Sensio Banda commended President Lungu for issuing the presidential order to have the boy continue with treatment and care in Lusaka.

Rosemary, the mother of Richard, and Alice Shawa, the grandmother of the boy, have accompanied the boy to Lusaka.
Rosemary said she was happy the President intervened in the matter while Ms Shawa commended Mr Lungu and the entire medical team for the care and treatment for her grandson.