Likoma institutions in transport woes
A student at Likoma Secondary School died last month as he was being stretchered to St. Peter’s Hospital, Likoma district education manager (DEM) NamesonNgwira said.
Ngwira told The Nation on Monday that the school’s vehicle is grounded and is yet to be repaired.
On the other hand, the hospital’s only ambulance is in Mzuzu for maintenance.
In the absence of the vehicles, students are forced to carry sick colleagues to the hospital, almost six kilometres away, on a stretcher.
Said Ngwira: “This is not only inconveniencing students, but also delaying patients’ access to proper medical attention.”
He said the student had an asthma attack, but authorities’ failure to find means of transport in time led to the patient’s death on the way to the hospital.
Ngwira said the school management is responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle.
Likoma Secondary School head teacher Emmanuel Kondowe said lack of a vehicle has affected operations at the school.
He said: “It is an old vehicle that needs complete overhaul. It has taken long to repair because Likoma does not have a motor vehicle repair service centre.”
Likoma district health officer (DHO) Bongani Chikwapulo confirmed that the hospital ambulance is in Mzuzu for maintenance.
Chikwapulo said the ambulance will not be available for two months because it is undergoing “major maintenance”.
He, however, said in the interim, the Anglican Church has provided them with another vehicle to serve as an ambulance.
The deceased was identified as Gershom Phiri, 18, from Nthembo Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mbwana in Nkhata Bay.
