Quack doctors wreak havoc in Domboshava

06 Dec, 2020 - 00:12 0 Views
Quack doctors wreak havoc in Domboshava

The Sunday Mail

Tendai Chara

QUACK doctors have flooded Domboshava, the peri-urban settlement that is located about 27 kilometres north of Harare, putting the lives of unsuspecting patients at great risk.

Investigations by The Sunday Mail Society revealed that some nurses and nurse aides are masquerading as qualified doctors.

It is believed an unexpected surge in the local population has created this fix.

Over the years, the settlement has become one of the country’s fastest developing peri-urban centres.

It now eclipses long-established towns such as Norton and Marondera in terms of population and size.

Locals estimate that more than 100 families are settling in this dormitory area every week.

Ordinarily, this has created a high demand for basic services like health care.

As a result, unscrupulous and unqualified individuals have seized the opportunity to set up unregistered health centres in areas that include Mverechena and Showground shopping centre.

In some instances, desperate patients are being attended to in weird public places like beerhalls.

Concern

“I can confirm that we have cases of bogus doctors in the area (Domboshava). I, however, need more time for me to dig deeper into the cases so that I can give a detailed account on this sensitive subject,” said Dr Stephen Karim, the district medical officer for Goromonzi.

Dr Karim said cases of patients that were mistreated in Domboshava, presumably by bogus doctors, have been handled at Makumbe District Hospital.

Government says it is concerned about the prevalence of bogus doctors.

“I advise hospital authorities and patients to be always on alert. It is important for patients to check on the medical practitioners’ qualifications which should be displayed on the surgery walls. If there are doubts, the patient can always verify with the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe or report such people to the police,” said Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro.

Repeated efforts to get a comment from the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA), which represents the interests of medical doctors, were in vain.

Instead, ZiMA referred us to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe (MDPCZ).

Ms Julian Mashingaidze, the secretary of the MDPCZ, referred this publication to the council’s registrar, who was not immediately available.

Close shave

Mercy Parirehwa, a Domboshava resident, recounted her horror experience at the hands of one of the wannabe doctors.

“I was pregnant and most doctors were on strike. I was left with no option but to consult a local ‘doctor’ who was operating at Mverechena shops since I was experiencing pregnant-related complications. After paying a US$95 maternity fee, I was attended to and instantly instructed to go home. However, I was told to return if the pain persisted,” narrated Parirehwa.

Naturally, she complied.

However, this was to later prove to be a near-fatal decision as her condition deteriorated. Apparently, she had been wrongly diagnosed and similarly got wrong medication.

Upon consulting, the supposed doctor became hostile towards her and even ignored some of her calls.

It gets worse!

The bogus doctor abandoned his workstation, for good, as many disgruntled patients sought recourse against him.

A visit to Mverechena revealed that the premise that housed the surgery has since been turned into a beerhall.

“My condition worsened and my husband then took me to Chitungwiza General Hospital where I delivered my baby via Caesarean section. We discovered that the surgery did not have a maternity wing and that several women had also fallen victim,” Parirehwa said.

Ethel Chakubamba, another Domboshava resident, also fell victim to a spurious medical doctor.

“My son got sick and a friend referred me to a paediatrician who was operating from the back of a shop at Mungate Business Centre.

“After several visits, my son’s condition did not improve, but got worse. Eventually, I took him to Makumbe Hospital where he was treated,” Chakubamba said.

Posing as a potential client, this reporter contacted the “doctor” and asked him if he could attend to his imaginary sick son.

But, he denied being a medical practitioner.

Going forward, Mr Tapiwa Marima, the Goromonzi District Council Ward 4 councillor, whose ward covers Mverechena and Showground shopping centres, notes a possible catastrophe looming.

“I have had many complaints from residents who were either duped or mistreated by unqualified people who are masquerading as medical doctors. I raised the issue with relevant authorities and I am still waiting for a response,” Cllr Marima said.

According to him, there are at least eight surgeries in the ward whose operations are suspected to be illegitimate.

“I understand most of the bogus doctors operate from their homes. But we also have incidences in which drugs are exchanging hands even in beer halls,” he said.

Unregistered pharmacies have been set up in the area.

“Some of the fake pharmacies were destroyed during the operation that was targeting illegal structures recently.

“However, they have since resurfaced again, putting the lives of many at risk,” bemoaned Cllr Marima.

Recently, a Harare man, Admire Chisi, was arrested after posing as a medical doctor at Parirenyatwa for seven months.

Chisi, of Zimre Park, wrote medical affidavits and prescriptions until a senior doctor discovered him and alerted the police.

 

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