By Burnett Munthali
Patience Namadingo took to his Facebook page to share a deeply frustrating encounter at Mangochi District Hospital.
According to his account, he arrived at Mangochi District Hospital at exactly 02:00 PM today.
Before making the trip, he had already tried to get in touch with the hospital’s Director of Health Services earlier that morning at around 11:00 AM.
His calls went unanswered.
In an effort to ensure his visit would be fruitful, he followed up with a text message.
That, too, remained without response.
Upon arriving at the hospital, he made his way to the administration building and approached the office of the Director’s secretary.
The secretary informed him that the Director was not present at the hospital.
When asked about the Director’s whereabouts or the reason for his absence, the secretary responded in Chichewa.
She said, “Lero lonse sindinalankhuleko nawo kunonso sanabweleko nde sindikudziwa kuti alikuti.”
Translated into English, this means she had not spoken to the Director the entire day, he had not been to the hospital at all, and she had no idea where he was.
In search of someone else in authority, Namadingo requested to meet the hospital administrator.
However, he was told that the administrator had stepped out for lunch.
Oddly, it was already 20 minutes to 3:00 PM, yet the administrator had still not returned.
When questioned about this extended lunch break, the secretary casually said, “Mwina adzela kwina,” suggesting that he may have gone elsewhere.
Refusing to give up, Namadingo then asked to meet the District Medical Officer.
Once again, he hit a dead end.
He was informed that the District Medical Officer had travelled to Monkey Bay for a field assignment.
It was at this point that it became unmistakably clear—none of the key figures were available.
The absence of all senior management left Namadingo and his team with no one to meet or speak with.
Faced with this situation, they decided to remain in Mangochi for the night.
They resolved to return to the hospital the following day in hopes of finally securing a meeting with the appropriate personnel.
This unfortunate experience has sparked concerns about the accountability and presence of leadership at a major public health facility.
One can only imagine the frustration of ordinary patients seeking assistance when even a public figure struggles to meet anyone in charge.
It begs the question: how can such institutions function efficiently when critical decision-makers are either absent, unreachable, or unaccounted for?
The incident sheds light on a broader issue within the public health system—the lack of responsiveness and professionalism that affects service delivery and undermines public trust.
Namadingo’s decision to publicly share this story points to a growing demand for transparency and reform.
It also highlights the need for public officials to respect their responsibilities and be accessible to those they are meant to serve.
As Namadingo and his team prepare for a second attempt tomorrow, many are watching closely to see whether the hospital leadership will show up.
For now, all eyes are on Mangochi District Hospital.
Let us hope that tomorrow offers a more encouraging chapter in this unfolding story.
