Misunderstanding in Ntchisi Village as Church Members Refuse to Take Suspected Cholera Patient to Hospital

There was a misunderstanding at Sanza Village in T/A Kalumo’s area in Ntchisi yesterday between health officials and members of the Zion church, who were allegedly refusing to take one of their members to the hospital for suspected cholera.

Yotamu Kwauma, an Integrated Disease and Surveillance Response Coordinator for Ntchisi District Hospital, said that reports indicate that the patient, a woman, began showing signs and symptoms of the disease yesterday.

Upon arriving at the village today, health officials faced resistance from church elders, who claimed that it was not proper for their member to be taken to the hospital due to their beliefs.

However, with the help of the police, the woman was taken to the hospital, where it was confirmed that she had cholera. She is now being kept at the district’s isolation center.

The Reverend of the church in the district, Chiwere Siwande, refused to comment on the matter.