Rundu man dies under tree after clinic ‘refused’ to help
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
A 32-year-old man took his last breath under a mango tree outside Sauyemwa clinic after nurses allegedly refused to attend to him because he did not have a medical passport.
The incident happened last Thursday at around 15:00 when the late Mario Mingandja was allegedly left to die after having sought medical attention.
However, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe, when contacted for comment over the matter, denied the allegations, saying the preliminary report has shown that the deceased went to the clinic seeking a Covid-19 vaccination.
The family refuted the vaccination claim, saying the deceased was already vaccinated on 11 May.
Nangombe said the ministry is investigating the matter and a full report will be made available.
According to his family, Mingandja complained of chest pains during the week and was given money by his father to visit the clinic.
It was only on Thursday when he went to seek medical treatment.
Mingandja went to the Sauyemwa clinic, situated about 500 metres from his house.
Already dead
“He went to the clinic and told the nurses that he needs medical attention. The nurses refused to help him because he only had his Covid-19 vaccination card and not his medical passport,” a family member narrated.
“He came home and searched for his health passport but could not find it. He returned to the clinic and they again refused to help him.
“He then went to sit under a mango tree. The hawkers selling goods at the clinic gave him water, but when they saw his situation was deteriorating, they went to call a nurse.
“Upon their arrival, they attempted to take his temperature but he was already dead.”
The family revealed that it was only after the deceased had died that a community member revealed that Mingandja was injured during an assault that past Sunday.
Some suspect he might have had internal bleeding.
A post mortem has yet to be conducted to determine the cause of death, but the family is insisting that the health officials at the clinic who refused to assist the deceased should have acted differently.
They said they are yet to decide what action they will take next as they seek justice for the death of their loved one.
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RUNDU
A 32-year-old man took his last breath under a mango tree outside Sauyemwa clinic after nurses allegedly refused to attend to him because he did not have a medical passport.
The incident happened last Thursday at around 15:00 when the late Mario Mingandja was allegedly left to die after having sought medical attention.
However, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe, when contacted for comment over the matter, denied the allegations, saying the preliminary report has shown that the deceased went to the clinic seeking a Covid-19 vaccination.
The family refuted the vaccination claim, saying the deceased was already vaccinated on 11 May.
Nangombe said the ministry is investigating the matter and a full report will be made available.
According to his family, Mingandja complained of chest pains during the week and was given money by his father to visit the clinic.
It was only on Thursday when he went to seek medical treatment.
Mingandja went to the Sauyemwa clinic, situated about 500 metres from his house.
Already dead
“He went to the clinic and told the nurses that he needs medical attention. The nurses refused to help him because he only had his Covid-19 vaccination card and not his medical passport,” a family member narrated.
“He came home and searched for his health passport but could not find it. He returned to the clinic and they again refused to help him.
“He then went to sit under a mango tree. The hawkers selling goods at the clinic gave him water, but when they saw his situation was deteriorating, they went to call a nurse.
“Upon their arrival, they attempted to take his temperature but he was already dead.”
The family revealed that it was only after the deceased had died that a community member revealed that Mingandja was injured during an assault that past Sunday.
Some suspect he might have had internal bleeding.
A post mortem has yet to be conducted to determine the cause of death, but the family is insisting that the health officials at the clinic who refused to assist the deceased should have acted differently.
They said they are yet to decide what action they will take next as they seek justice for the death of their loved one.
[email protected]
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