Death toll in Mzuzu fatal accident jumps to 16: Blood banks empty

Reports reaching faceofMalawi indicates that death toll in the recent fatal accident in Mzuzu has risen to 16 following the death of a patient who was receiving treatment at Mzuzu Central Hospital on Monday.

Hospital officials at Mzuzu Central Hospital have confirmed of the development.

On Sunday, media reports indicated that 15 people died on scene of the accident (Msiki area) while more than 30 others were referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital.

Mzuzu Police publicist Martin Bwanali told the press that the accident involved a tipper – Ashkok Leyland – registration number BQ 9942 which, after failing to negotiate corner hit three other vehicles in row that were heading the opposite direction.

Meanwhile information sourced by this publication indicates that blood banks in the Northern Region have depleted due to the accident.

MBTS Mzuzu Branch, which caters for the Northern Region, supplies about 80 pints in all the region’s hospitals each day.

But the accident forced the institution to supply 75 pints of blood to Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH) alone to assist the 30 people who were injured in the accident.

Malawi Blood Transfusion (MBTs) assistant senior public relations officer for Mzuzu Mphatso Bazale confirmed of the development in an interview with Nation Newspaper.

Bazale said MBTS was forced to release contingency units—40 pints of blood kept for very critical situations— which was part of the 75 pints.

“We cater for the whole region and, per day, we supply about 80 pints for the hospital in the region. However, the Friday accident forced us to release 75 pints only for Mzuzu Central Hospital,” he said.

MCH administrator Timothy Soko confirmed that the hospital got blood from MBTS during the weekend to assist the victims. He said the hospital relies on MBTS for blood.