Agony as man dies, five children hospitalised after taking herbs

A 40-year-old man from Kimangeti Village in Malava Sub-County has died after consuming a concoction of herbs.

The concoction also had the man's five children hospitalised a few minutes after consuming it. The deceased and his children were complaining of stomach ache.

According to his widow, Jackline Luvonga, said that the tragedy befell her family after a neighbour surfaced with the concoction which triggered severe stomach pains for the victims.

"My husband and children complained of serious pains in the stomach. I told him to visit the hospital but he said he lacked money and he was given some herbs to boil by my neighbour, but the situation worsened," Mrs Luvonga stated.

She added that moments after drinking the boiled drug, the victims began vomiting blood and passed out prompting her to rush them to Malava Hospital where her husband was pronounced dead on arrival. Her children are yet to regain consciousness.

In her defence, the suspect who prescribed the traditional medicine told the press that the victims failed to follow the instructions she gave them leading to the death.

"These weeds have been used for long to cure those with rumbling stomach, I told them to eat before taking the drug but they drank it on empty stomachs causing the problem," said Lukasili.

Confirming the incident Malava Sub County Police Commander Peter Mwanzo lamented the rising cases of locals resorting to traditional medicine instead of going to the hospital.

"Since the corona pandemic began, we are greatly concerned that people are not seeking health care services from hospitals but are using short cuts that are dangerous. We could have lost more lives had the mum taken the drugs too," said Mwaanzo.

He warned locals against using herbs that have not been authorised by health experts. Over the last few months, doctors across the country have complained of patients not seeking healthcare services when they are sick over.

Many have attributed this to the fear of being quarantined once their temperatures are detected to be above normal. Hard economic times caused by the ripple effects of Covid-19 has also contributed to the laxity at which locals seek treatment in hospitals.