An assault case has been opened against a nurse who allegedly assaulted the mother of an infant patient for sitting on a hospital bed at Okahandja State Hospital on Sunday.
Okahandja police station commander chief inspector Mathias Tjarimba has confirmed the case, adding that investigations are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“They are all at the station for us to understand what really escalated and determine who is guilty or whether they will be fined. Nothing has been ruled yet,” Tjiramba said yesterday.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday in the children’s ward, where Tusnelde Matheus (30) had been staying with her 11-month-old baby, who was admitted to hospital on Friday.
According to Matheus’ husband, Petrus Nghidengwa (32), the nurse, identified only as Nehale, asked Matheus to surrender the chair she was using so it could be used to assist other patients.
After the chair was taken and not immediately returned, Matheus allegedly sat on her baby’s hospital bed to breastfeed.
“She just leaned on it because the baby was crying. When the sister came back she started shouting saying she was not allowed to sit on the bed,” Nghidengwa told The Namibian yesterday.
He alleged that the nurse attempted to take the baby before later returning the chair in what he described as an aggressive manner.
Nghidengwa confirmed the bed was small and only meant for babies, but Matheus claims she was only leaning on it as it could not support an adult’s weight.
“When she went to get the chair she took from my wife, she dumped it beside her. My wife asked why she gave her the chair in peace but brought it back with anger,” he said.
The nurse allegedly told her that the chair was not hers and that she did not bring it from home, Nghidengwa said.
He said Matheus allegedly refused the chair that was brought to her in an “aggressive manner” and a roommate brought her another one.
“Later, a different nurse came in to ask how we were doing. My wife told her she wasn’t okay because she was made upset by another nurse,” he said.
Nghidengwa alleged that Nehale overheard the conversation, entered the room, threatened to assault Matheus, and slapped her.
He said Matheus retaliated and the two women got into a physical altercation during which the nurse allegedly bit her.
Matheus reportedly sustained swelling on the one side of her face.
“But she is fine now,” Nghidengwa said.
The matter was then reported to hospital matron Maureen Gawises, who allegedly only requested a statement from Matheus and told them she would address Nehale internally.
Both Matheus and Nehale were summoned to Okahandja Police Station yesterday, where Nehale also reported a case of assault.
“The police called my wife yesterday to tell her that a case has been opened against her and that she must go to the station while still caring for her sick baby,” Nghidengwa said.
