Lives of mothers with maternity complications are at stake following the closure of Ethel Mutharika High Dependence Unit (HDU) at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) due to shortage of nurses.
KCH director Dr Noordeen Alide confirmed the closure and said it is due to lack of houses for accommodation for staff.
“We were given many people, but the problem is where to stay. [But] one nurse is coming. Seems she has found a house,” said Alide on Thursday.
A source at the hospital said the Ethel Mutharika High Dependence Unit handles women maternity complications especially after delivery.
“In that unit, women with complications after delivery are resuscitated back to normal life. The unit also reduces congestion at the ICU [Intensive Care Unit]. Maternity problems are well managed there. The decision to close the unit was made abruptly and it affected patients,” said one source.
Another source said there were only two nurses at the ward.
“The paying ward is operating and yet the hospital can do without a paying ward. All patients who need HDU care are kept in general wards where they can be mismanaged.
“They would have taken some nurses from other wards to cover up the shortage instead of closing it,” said the source.
