Gale Ngakane
23 December 2008
Francistown — The adage "once a pirate always a pirate", is turning out to be "once a thief, always a thief" at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.
Comment on the issue could not be obtained from the hospital Superintendent, Dr Japhta Masunge who could not be reached. neither could we get hold of the public relations officer.
But the police acknowledged having received complaints from patients whose personal belongings were stolen while they were hospitalised.
Acting Central police station commander, Assistant Superintendent Rebakgosi Setumo confirmed receiving such complaints although he did not readily have statistics with him.
He said: "Those things happen at the hospital. We have had complaints of patients stealing from others."
Last week a woman whose baby was hospitalised said she woke up in the morning to find her handbag ransacked.
The woman, who did not want to be named said because it was hot and the bed was narrow, she decided to sleep on the floor.
"I took my bag and put it next to my pillow. But when I woke up in the morning, I found it had been opened and searched. I wonder who would do that, especially as the wards are always floodlit."
Another woman, Julia Bothoboile, 32 said when she went into maternity at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, she took with her a brand new blanket.
"It was winter time and I thought it would be a good idea to use the blanket to keep warm. But then I went into labour. I was transferred to a delivery room and left behind my blanket and other items.
"When I came back, the blanket was no way to be found. I asked around but no one where saw it," said Bothoboile.She said it was not the first or last time she had her things stolen.
"The other time I was hospitalised I had with me nice lingerie I bought from an exclusive shop here in Francistown. I washed them and put them on the line. When I went to take them, they were not there," she said.
Other people who have been hospitalised told Mmegi that they too have had their property stolen and they suspect both patients and medical staff, especially nurses and hospital orderlies.
'When you become hospitalised at Nyangabgwe, make sure you do not take anything that is expensive with you. Otherwise, if you have money make sure you have it with you at all times. There are thieves in there," said a woman who also did not want her name revealed.
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