Missing medical file reappears in N$3.8m hysterectomy lawsuit

A woman who says she underwent a hysterectomy without her consent several days after giving birth in 2017 claims that legal documents she filed for a lawsuit went missing, only to mysteriously resurface seven years later.Amalia Festus (34) told Namibian Sun that she is seeking answers from the health ministry on why her maternity record, which contained information about her initial admission and treatment, was only provided to her on 1 April this year. Namibian Sun reported in 2024 that Festus was suing the health ministry for N$3.8 million after her womb was surgically removed, reportedly without her consent.Festus said medical staff reportedly performed a hysterectomy after an infection following an emergency caesarean section. According to court documents, Dr Josef Mufenda, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, noted that Festus showed signs of severe sepsis, including abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and no bowel movement for five days after her C-section. Mufenda said that despite administering strong antibiotics, Festus’ condition did not improve, leading to life-saving surgery.He noted that the hysterectomy was performed after doctors found her worsening condition posed a serious risk to her life, with sepsis carrying a mortality rate of over 30%.Seeking answers Festus said she wrote to the health ministry in September 2018 seeking clarity on what had led to the sepsis and why the antibiotics were ineffective.According to Festus, the ministry only responded in 2019 after a local newspaper had reported on her ordeal.In a letter dated 5 March 2019, seen by the Namibia Sun, the ministry acknowledged her correspondence and informed her that her maternity file could not be located.“Our administration department is trying its utmost best to trace the maternity file so that we will be able to respond to your questions,” the letter read.It was only this year, on 1 April, when the ministry responded to Festus, telling her they had found the document.“My concern is that after all these years, how does my file suddenly reappear now? I believe they have fabricated parts of the file to cover up their negligence," Festus said. “This ordeal has broken my heart, and I really just want someone to be held accountable for what happened. My life was ruined at the tender age of 26, and I will never be able to bear children again. This saddens me deeply,” she added. Contacted for comment on the reappearance of the maternity recorder after seven years, health ministry spokesperson Walter Kamaya said it would be premature to speculate on issues before the court.“So that information we should provide to the court and not the media,” he said.

Missing medical file reappears in N$3.8m hysterectomy lawsuit

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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Missing medical file reappears in N$3.8m hysterectomy lawsuit

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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