Hospital murder shocks //Karas
//Karas Regional Health Director Barth Mutenda expressed his distress over an alleged murder that took place at the Keetmanshoop State Hospital Wednesday morning.
Speaking to Nampa, Mutenda said he was shaken by the fact that the lives of patients and medical personnel were at risk in a place that is meant to be a safe zone.
Although Mutenda could not give full details about what exactly happened at the alleged murder scene due to ongoing investigations, he confirmed that a young man was stabbed at the entrance of the hospital. “He died while being attended to by doctors and nurses in the theatre after being brought in from the procedure room where his condition was established as critical.”
The deceased has meanwhile been identified as 20-year-old Johan Jansen by Nampol's Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Chrispin Mubebo.
Both Mutenda and Mubebo said the victim was brought to the hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in a fight between two groups around 02:00 at a bar in Tseiblaagte.
It is suspected that those fighting the deceased followed him to the hospital and stabbed him there again.
“I can tell you now, I am not okay, my medical personnel are not well and my patients are uneasy. We are seriously pondering immediate safety measures to put in place,” Mutenda said. He said it was not the first time that the lives of those at the hospital were put at risk by members of local communities.
“We live in a violent environment in //Karas; it is a genuine problem. We have security guards at the hospital specifically because of the actions of drunken people in the hospital corridors in the past.” Mutenda said it was not unheard of for members of the public to harass patients and medical staff at the health facility.
“It is worrisome. A hospital is a place of safety and it does not discriminate against anyone, including [the] perpetrators of violence outside our gates who come to seek medical assistance,” he said. However now, the facility will have to seriously consider the way forward, he reiterated.
Mutenda said the directorate would look into immediate temporary measures, possibly barring certain movement, followed by the involvement of police as well as violent members themselves to help shape a safer environment.
Seven suspects arrested in the alleged murder and appeared in the local court on Friday.
NAMPA
Speaking to Nampa, Mutenda said he was shaken by the fact that the lives of patients and medical personnel were at risk in a place that is meant to be a safe zone.
Although Mutenda could not give full details about what exactly happened at the alleged murder scene due to ongoing investigations, he confirmed that a young man was stabbed at the entrance of the hospital. “He died while being attended to by doctors and nurses in the theatre after being brought in from the procedure room where his condition was established as critical.”
The deceased has meanwhile been identified as 20-year-old Johan Jansen by Nampol's Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Chrispin Mubebo.
Both Mutenda and Mubebo said the victim was brought to the hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in a fight between two groups around 02:00 at a bar in Tseiblaagte.
It is suspected that those fighting the deceased followed him to the hospital and stabbed him there again.
“I can tell you now, I am not okay, my medical personnel are not well and my patients are uneasy. We are seriously pondering immediate safety measures to put in place,” Mutenda said. He said it was not the first time that the lives of those at the hospital were put at risk by members of local communities.
“We live in a violent environment in //Karas; it is a genuine problem. We have security guards at the hospital specifically because of the actions of drunken people in the hospital corridors in the past.” Mutenda said it was not unheard of for members of the public to harass patients and medical staff at the health facility.
“It is worrisome. A hospital is a place of safety and it does not discriminate against anyone, including [the] perpetrators of violence outside our gates who come to seek medical assistance,” he said. However now, the facility will have to seriously consider the way forward, he reiterated.
Mutenda said the directorate would look into immediate temporary measures, possibly barring certain movement, followed by the involvement of police as well as violent members themselves to help shape a safer environment.
Seven suspects arrested in the alleged murder and appeared in the local court on Friday.
NAMPA
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