Friday, November 1, 2024

Choma residents concerned with surgeon’s departure

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Residents of Choma have expressed concern of the impending departure of the only surgeon at Choma District Hospital.

And CHOMA District Commissioner, Laiven Apuleni, says government is aware of the impending departure of the only consultant surgeon at health institution.

Mr Apuleni says the American medical doctor is a Jesuit priest who has been assigned to another country by the Roman Catholic Church.

He told ZANIS in Choma today that government can do very little to stop the impending departure.

Mr Apuleni admitted that the departure of the consultant surgeon will be a loss to the district as he was the only specialist personnel at the district hospital.

“Yes , I have received representations from the community on the matter,” he said.

The named American medical doctor has indicated that he would be leaving this month-end after several years of service at Choma General Hospital.

The DC was responding to appeals from some Choma residents that government should intervene and reverse the transfer of the consultant surgeon who is also a Catholic priest.

Several residents have called upon Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe, to take up the matter with relevant authorities.

Some residents have since formed an ad-hoc committee to pressure both government and the church to stop the impending departure of the surgeon whom they said has saved many lives.

They have expressed fear that the departure of the doctor would result in most cases requiring the services of a surgeon being referred to Monze Mission Hospital and other referral institutions, a thing they said would be too costly and affordable by most under-privileged people.

“At the time minister Munkombwe was sick and admitted to Choma General Hospital, he was operated on by the same surgeon who is due to leave. We are making a humble appeal to the minister to intervene,” said Mr Ackim Mudenda. “The Pope should sympathize with Choma residents and allow Dr Johnson to stay on.”

Mr Mudenda said the district hospital was already grappling with shortage of medical doctors and that the development would worsen the situation.

ZANIS

9 COMMENTS

  1. This is an unfortunate state of affairs. I wonder why he’s being relocated. Not enough doctors in the world it seems.
    If the government were really commited to saving the situation , they can arrange something.
    A situation like this can not be , or rather , should not be much of a problem for the govt.

  2. We know specialist medical Doctors are a rare asset to any nation. But for a community to even go as far as calling on the pope to stop the transfer is just rediculous. This is the price you pay for handout/aid dependance. Find a new doctor for the region and make sure you pay him.

  3. I worked with Dr Johnson,he is a very good doctor.He is the epitome of what a true doctor is.He would personally clean patients with necrotising fasciitis whilst other consultants would leave it to the nurses or relatives to do.Its because of his keen interest in patients that many lives were saved.I think the people of Choma should do all to retain this man.

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