Wed, 21 Feb 2018 11:17:05 +0000
By PETER MALASHA
A COMMUNITY health worker at Mulungwe health post in Mkushi has been accused of sexually harassing patients and reportedly impregnating a married patient.
The incident has angered community members who protested at Chief Mulungwe’s palace, demanding the named man be punished.
Family members of the impregnated woman also stormed Mkushi District Commissioner (DC) Luka Mwamba’s office demanding that the culprit to be disciplined.
Speaking in interview with the Daily Nation, Kalwa ward councillor Gerald Manda confirmed both incidents involving the named community health worker.
Mr. Manda said following the development, the woman’s husband almost lynched the man but he was rescued by community members who intervened.
The man has threatened to sue the health worker for misconduct.
According to Mr. Manda the health worker has since been transferred to another station.
He said this had angered relatives of the impregnated woman, who felt the punishment was not severe enough and questioned the logic of transferring the problem to another health post.
Councillor Manda has appealed to the district medical office to deploy a qualified health officer to run the health post as opposed to a worker who was unable to observe professional ethics.
Councillor Manda further bemoaned the lack of professionalism and observance of health ethics.
And when contacted, Mkushi district medical officer Dr. Alice Tembo referred queries to provincial medical officer Dr. Rosemary Mwanza.
But efforts to reach Dr Mwanza proved futile by press time.
