Family waited 10 hours for police
An Okahandja family says it waited nearly 10 hours for help to remove the body of their five-year-old daughter who died at home after an illness.
Romian Tsuses, one of a set of twins, died in the early hours of Wednesday after she had been diagnosed with malnutrition, which caused her body to swell, her family says.
Her mother, Fidelia Tsuses (28), was forced to transport her body in a trolley when the police took too long to arrive.
Okahandja police station commander Mathias Tjarimba says he was informed about the matter, but referred The Namibian to Otjozondjupa regional commander Phillip Hidengwa for further information on the case.
Hidengwa did not respond to calls and messages by the time of going to print yesterday.
Tsuses, who is a mother of seven, tells The Namibian that the family contacted the police shortly after Romian’s death, but help only arrived hours later, leaving them with the child’s body at their home throughout the morning.
The child’s grandmother, Renate Tsuses (52), says the family contacted the police at around 03h00 in the morning after Romian died, but they waited until midday before officers arrived.
“They took very long,” the mother says.
The family says the delay became unbearable, and at around 10h00, they placed the child’s body in a trolley and attempted to move towards the main road to find transport to take her to hospital.
“The children were waiting for them for so long. We wanted to push the baby to the nearest place so that they could take the body to the hospital,” Tsuses says.
According to the family, they were later informed that police officers had struggled to locate their home in Sweet Valley, Ekunde 1, Block 9.
“They said they didn’t find the place. They don’t know the place and the street,” she says.
The family further alleges that when they initially called the police station, they were told that the police do not collect bodies of people who die at home after an illness, and the family should arrange private transport.
“They told us they are not taking the dead bodies. We asked to take a private car, but we don’t have taxi money and it is very far from here,” the family says.
The family, however, has expressed appreciation to the station commander, whom they say later intervened and ensured assistance was provided.
Romian had been ill before her death, with her family saying her hands, feet and face had started swelling.
Tsuses says they took her to Okahandja State Hospital, where they were informed that she was suffering from malnutrition.
“They gave us things that they said we must give her so that she can eat healthy food,” Tsuses says.
The child was later taken home, where her condition worsened.
“She was already sick. She was swelling up. The swelling did not want to stop, and that is why she passed away,” she says.
Tsuses is unemployed and is now raising six children as a single mother, according to the family.
They say the loss has left her traumatised.
“I am very very disappointed about how people are treating other people. Imagine it was your child,” Tsuses says.
‘HELP THEM’
According to a family friend, Elizabeth Goises, the family is impoverished and needs help not only with food, but with burying the deceased.
“They really need help because no one works and they live in a very bad state, they do not have electricity, they do not have access to water, they really need help,” she says.
She adds that every contribution will be appreciated.
“They are really living in a terrifying state, because other children can also suffer from malnutrition,” she says.
