Source: Nurse Fined US$250, Suspended After Kicking Heavily Pregnant Woman ⋆ Pindula News
The nurse-in-charge at Nyamazira Clinic who slapped and kicked a heavily pregnant woman has been convicted of assault by the Rusape Magistrates’ Court and fined US$250.
Shingirai Nyongolo was represented by Rusape lawyer Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Partners Legal Practitioners and pleaded guilty to the offence.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has suspended Nyongolo from duty to allow internal investigations and disciplinary proceedings to take place.
Makoni District Medical Officer Tendai Nyafesa said Nyongolo was suspended on full benefits and that internal investigations had been launched.
He said a doctor was sent to examine the woman and found that both she and her child were in good health.
“Following revelations of the allegations that a member of staff assaulted a pregnant woman, we promptly visited the clinic to gather finer details,” said Nyafesa.
“We managed to locate the woman, and she was attended to by a medical doctor at her homestead in Nyamazira Village.
“The doctor produced a medical report, which the woman tendered at Mayo Police Station for police to open the docket.
“The woman is in stable condition, and her eye has recovered. The baby is also fine.
“The member of staff has since been suspended from attending work to allow investigations to go smoothly.”
The incident happened on 13 July, three days before the victim, Chipo Gavi-Tsiga, gave birth.
Gavi-Tsiga told The Manica Post that the altercation started when she and other expectant mothers took buckets used in the maternity waiting shelter to the clinic tap to clean them.
She said Nyongolo accused them of bringing unhygienic containers to the tap and became agitated when they defended themselves.
“We had gone to fetch water and found him at the tap. He complained that we were bringing urinary buckets to the tap.
“We explained that we were not using the buckets to relieve ourselves because of our condition, but he insisted that they were dirty.
“He continued scolding us, and I told him he was being too talkative. He then became angry, kicked me in the stomach and slapped me on my right eye.”
Nyangolo later visited the woman’s home several times. He initially offered her US$25 and later increased it to US$150, but her family turned down the money.
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