By Rahim Abdul
A wave of shock and sorrow has swept through Chilomoni Township in Blantyre following the death of a child who reportedly succumbed to cholera after his parents allegedly refused to take him to hospital due to religious beliefs.
The heartbreaking incident has ignited a fierce debate about parental responsibility, religious freedom and the fundamental rights of children to access life-saving medical care.
Child rights advocate Memory Chisenga says she is deeply saddened by the development, describing it as a clear violation of a child’s right to proper healthcare.
According to her, the tragedy highlights the urgent need to protect children from decisions that place their lives at risk.
Chisenga stressed that while parents have the constitutional right to practice their religion, that right must not override a child’s right to survival. She said denying a sick child medical attention amounts to neglect and undermines national child protection laws.
She further argued that Malawi’s legal framework places a clear duty on parents to safeguard the wellbeing of their children, including ensuring access to medical services when needed.
Adding his voice to the matter, John Makwinja, bishop of Miracles of Jesus Outreach International Ministries, condemned the alleged refusal to seek treatment, calling it an act of cruelty rather than faith.
Makwinja stated that preventing a child from receiving medical help when seriously ill should be considered abuse. He said the parents involved must answer to the law in connection with the child’s death.
The tragedy comes as Malawi continues to face recurring outbreaks of cholera, a disease that health experts say is treatable if patients receive timely medical care.
In a troubling turn of events, the child’s mother has also reportedly tested positive for cholera and is currently at Chilomoni Hospital, but is said to be refusing treatment as well.
As the community mourns, the case has triggered renewed calls for authorities to intervene more decisively in situations where children’s lives are endangered, reinforcing the message that no belief system should come before a child’s right to live.
