15 May 2008
Maputo — The Mozambican police have arrested three health workers who allegedly helped Nelson Bata, a mechanic with no medical qualifications, to pass himself off as a gynaecologist for three years.
Thursday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias" names the three men arrested as doctor Clesio Zagueu, nurse Freedson Chuanga, and pharmacist Bernardo Mulhanga.
They were picked up because, under interrogation by the police, Bata named all three of them as people who had provided him with hospital equipment and medicines, and facilitated his movement around the Maputo Central Hospital, the largest health unit in the country.
The three deny the charges, and claim that Bata named them in bad faith. They are now being questioned by the Criminal Investigation Police (PIC).
The police have shown materials seized from Bata to the press. These include significant quantities of oral and injectable medicines, medical scissors, catheters, instruments for measuring blood pressure, and stamps used to validate hospital documents.
Bata seemed to have made a living by extorting money from patients outside of the hospital, who believed he was a genuine doctor. This led to tragedy - a woman named Fernanda dos Santos told reporters how her sister Leonor had died in February after being "treated" by Bata.
Bata began treating Leonor at home, but when her condition deteriorated she was taken to the central hospital. Bata accompanied her, and spun a story to the family that the medicines Leonor needed were not available at the hospital. However, he could obtain them, if they paid him 14,000 meticais (about 580 US dollars).
The family did not have such a sum, so Bata dropped his price and accepted 2,500 meticais. He told them to come back the following day, and he would deal with everything. When they returned, and asked for "Dr" Nelson Bata, they were told that no doctor of that name worked in the hospital.
The family attempted to seize Bata and take him to the police "but he disappeared and my sister lost her life", said Fernanda dos Santos. If her story is accurate, then Bata could be charged with manslaughter, if not with murder.
Nobody from the Health Ministry or the Central Hospital has yet explained how an imposter could operate from the hospital for three years without being discovered. When a reporter from the independent television station, STV, attempted to raise the matter on Wednesday with Health Minister Ivo Garrido, he not only refused to answer, but ordered a subordinate to remove the journalist.
This incident has been repeatedly broadcast on STV, and is a severe, self-inflicted blow to the Minister's image.
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that's Mozambique guys:D..it's amaizing how life's cheap over there..no body cares!!! the 'big fishes' from the goverment and the so called 'millionars' when they need a doctor they go to a private clinic or travel across the border and that's it..