Bwaila District Hospital Assistant Under-five clinic pharmacist arrested for drug theft

MALAWI: As Malawi’s hospitals are crying over shortage of drugs, Bwaila District Hospital's 26-year-old Under-five clinic Assistant Pharmacist, Lusayo Kaliza, is in Lilongwe Police custody on suspicion that on Wednesday, 22nd December 2021 she stole drugs from the clinic in Lilongwe.

Bwaila District Hospital security guards stopped Kaliza's vehicle, Daihatsu Mira, BW 7491, at the hospital exit gate for checking and she was allegedly found with the drugs and medical equipment.

One of Bwaila District Hospital security guards who preferred to be off-record said they found the under-five Assistant Pharmacist with 30 doses of LA, 50 Vials of X-Pen, 10 liters of RIL, 11 boxes of gloves, 11 giving sets, 3 bottles of Amoxicillin Suspension, 2 bottles of Myconova Suspension, 2 bottles of Paracetamol sachets, 2 bottles of Paracetamol Syrup and 1 packet of face masks upon thorough check.

“Bwaila surrendered her to Lilongwe Police on Wednesday evening,” said the guard.

Lilongwe Police publicist, Inspector Hastings Chigalu, said upon interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted that she indeed took the items from the Bwaila Under-five clinic pharmacy where she works.

“She was surrendered to Lilongwe Police on Wednesday evening. Investigations on the matter are on-going and the suspect, Lusayo Kaliza, who hails from Mchochoma Village, Traditional Authority Kamenyagwaza in Dedza, will appear in court soon to answer a case of Theft by Public Servant which contravenes section 283 as read with section 278 of the Penal Code," said Chigalu.

Previous two weeks, Lilongwe Police arrested four Kamuzu Central Hospital workers over theft of 40 packets of gloves.