MoH wants emergency medical services at all matches
Ministry of Health and Population wants all football matches to have specially trained emergency medical services personnel dedicated to providing pre-hospital emergency medical care and transport to injured players.
This comes hot on the heels of a Fifa sanctioned inspection of Bingu National Stadium and Kamuzu Stadium by UK-based Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) which made several recommendations including proving of such services at matches.
Fifa ordered the inspection following deaths of eight people in a stampede at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last year during Independence Celebrations match between Silver Strikers and Nyasa Big Bullets.
A commission of enquiry instituted by President Peter Mutharika also noted lack of emergency medical services during matches and other public events.
Secretary for health and population Dr. Jones Kaponda Masiye in January wrote Football Association of Malawi (FAM) asking the association to engage trained emergency medical services providers once the season kicks off next month.
“Malawi is facing a number of challenges in implementing a pre-hospital emergency medical care because of lack of trained first responders to emergencies, poor communication and transport systems and lack of appropriate equipment in ambulances.
“The purpose of this letter is to advise you to engage the Emergency Medical Services Providers during football matches forthwith, as they are in a position to handle any likely emergencies that would occur,” reads Kaponda Masiye’s letter to FAM.
In an interview, the secretary for health and population said: “If we had such medical service providers at the venue [Bingu National Stadium], I am sure we could have saved some of the lives that were lost,” he said.
Kaponda Masyie said stadium owners had responded to the call, however, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is yet to respond to the call.
“It’s unfortunate that I haven’t received any response from FAM. We extended this olive branch because this is something that will save lives. May be it’s because they are sacred that they will spend more on this services.
“But let me clarify that this is a free government service. Government will provide ambulances and all the equipment. FAM and football matches organisers will only have to pay allowances to these people for these people just like the others that provide services during matches,” said Kaponda Masiye.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said he had not yet received the letter from Kaponda Masiye.
He however, said the association will comply with the ministry’s order.
Gunda said: “This is a good development and as a nation. Surely, such an arrangement would have to be discussed in detail on how the services would be accessed by football over and above other national emergency response requirements.
“You will note that when football season tarts activities are spread across the country and at a cross section levels. We might need to really be clear on how this should work for the benefit of all matches and the general Malawian populace.”
As a pilot phase, the emergency medical services will be available at match venues in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, according to Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson Joshua Malango. n
