A LusakaA Male nurse at Mutamino Health Centre in Chongwe has been accused of refusing to attend to an expectant mother whose child died immediately after birth.It is alleged that Nkumbo Nyirongo refused to attend to the woman because he was taking a nap.Chongwe district director of health Joseph Kabungo and District Commissioner Frazer Musonda confirmed receiving the alleged negligence report by the health practitioner.

Mr Nyirongo is alleged to have refused to deliver Sofia Chambwa of her baby girl when the woman went to the medical facility around 04:00 hours in the company of her husband, Kingford.

Mr Chambwa told the Daily Mail that when he took his wife to hospital around 04:00 hours, Mr Nyirongo allegedly refused to respond to the couple’s distress call at Mr Nyirongo’s house.

It is believed that Mr Nyirongo was sleeping when the couple arrived at the health facility situated a few metres from his house.
“When my wife started experiencing contractions, I rushed her to the clinic. I then went to knock at the nurse’s door but he did not wake up,” Mr Chambwa said.

The nurse’s silence to the knock prompted the panicking Mr Chambwa to contact him on his mobile phone.

“I called the nurse on his phone, but he told me to get help from somewhere else because he was sleeping,” Mr Chambwa alleged.
While Mr Chambwa was trying to convince the nurse to help his wife, the woman’s contractions worsened and she delivered without an aide.
Mr Chambwa said some women who live near the clinic rushed to the facility to help his wife, but it was too late to save the child.

“Sadly, the helpers did not manage to save the life of my baby although they managed to control excessive bleeding,” he said. Mr Chambwa said he later reported the mater to Mutamino village headman Everisto Nkonka and the area ward councillor Felix Haachosa who confirmed the death of the child.

Mr Haachosa said the community leaders have reported the alleged unprofessional misconduct of Mr Nyirongo to the Chongwe District Health office.
But when contacted for comment, Mr Nyirongo refused to comment on the matter. “I cannot comment on the matter, kindly get in touch with Chongwe District Health office,” he said.

And when contacted, Dr Kabungo confirmed receiving the report against the male nurse. “We have a report of that nature and we are trying to establish the truth behind those issues,” he said in an interview. Dr Kabungo said the matter will be dealt with administratively, but in the best interest of the community.

And in a separate interview, Mr Musonda said the male nurse has been cited for negligence for allegedly refusing to attend to Mrs Chambwa, who was referred to the health facility. “It was a referral case, but the nurse should have made an effort to attend to the patient. He was supposed to arrange for transport to take the patient to Chongwe District Hospital,” he said.

Mr Musonda said Mr Nyirongo’s case will be dealt with administratively, and if found wanting, disciplinary action will be taken against him.
“The department of human resource will decide what kind of action to take against him,” he said.

The allegations against Mr Nyirongo come barely three months after a male nurse of Kalomo was suspended for allegedly refusing to attend to a female patient who failed to speak Tonga. But after investigations, the nurse was exonerated of the allegations made against him by a mother who