6 June 2008
Ndola — MORE than 50 pregnant women from Kitwe's Kawama Township yesterday morning protested over lack of security at Kawama Clinic which has forced nurses and health personnel to stop working at night.
Nurses at Kawama Clinic have withdrawn from night shifts after an April incidence in which armed robbers attacked and stole a number of items from the institution before stripping them naked.
The women abandoned an ante-natal clinic yesterday and marched to Mindolo police station to protest over the lack of security at the clinic.
One woman gave birth on a road on Wednesday night and her baby later died.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting women, Margaret Mulenga said they decided to march to the police station to register their displeasure at the lack of security in the area.
Mrs Mulenga said the women wanted the Zambia Police Service to deploy armed police officers to guard the health institution so that nurses could resume their night shifts at the clinic.
"We are protesting because we had a very unfortunate incident last night when one pregnant woman gave birth on a road and the baby later died. This whole thing has come up because of lack of security at Kawama Clinic," Mrs Mulenga said.
Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation Kitwe District chairperson, Priscilla Chitambala, said the nurses had resolved to stop conducting night duties after being attacked by armed robbers.
Mrs Chitambala said the union was concerned at the insecurity in the area and would only allow its members to start night shifts when armed security personnel are deployed at the clinic.
She said apart from the lack of security, residents were also hostile towards nurses and other health personnel.
Kitwe District health director, Chikafuna Banda, also complained about the lack of security in the area and the hostile nature of the residents towards the health personnel.
Dr Banda said he was surprised that of all the areas that received computers and other items, only Kawama Clinic had recorded attacks by armed robbers.
He said Kawama Township was a problematic area and advised the residents to co-operate with the health personnel for 24-hour services to be resumed.
He said the primary role of the district health management board was to provide quality health care and that it has no money to pay armed security personnel to guard the clinic.
Copperbelt police commanding officer, Antoneil Mutentwa, said the police would work with the Kitwe district health management board to find a solution to the problem.
He said the problem at Kawama Clinic arose from the aggravated robbery in April in when thieves stole equipment and stripped naked the nurses on duty.
Mr Mutentwa said the whole township should be protected from criminal elements.
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