Call for second opinion on patient's death

The People's Litigation Centre has called on the medical board to investigate the death of a patient who was waiting to be assisted at the Robert Mugabe Clinic in Windhoek.

PLC director Umenee Matundu said in a statement that they welcomed the health ministry's probe into the death but believed the board must launch a separate impartial investigation.

Matundu said the PLC was alarmed by the alleged negligent conduct by guards and nurses at the clinic, adding that the incident was a gross violation of the deceased's rights.

“Despite the ongoing investigations into the matter, medical statistics in Namibia indicate that in our public healthcare system we have had several cases of negligence on the part of the public health servants. Some of these date back a few years ago and others are more recent.

This shows that medical negligence is still an ongoing problem in the Namibian public health sector,” Matundu said.

The health ministry has in the meantime appointed a four-member committee to conduct a preliminary investigation into the circumstances of Laimi Nandjebo's death.

According to a statement issued by the ministry's executive director, Ben Nangombe, the late Nandjebo had taken her child to the clinic for immunisation and did not inform the clinic staff that she needed medical attention. Neither did she show any signs of distress.

He added that Nandjebo was accompanied by a relative who informed the clinic staff that she had been complaining of chest pains since the morning.

Nangombe said the investigating team would include a senior medical officer, a chief health programme officer, a nursing service manager and a control administrative officer.





JEMIMA BEUKES