AILING KAMBWILI EXTRADITED FROM ZIMBABWE
On January 10, 2024, the Ministry of Health, through the University Teaching Hospital wrote to Apollo in India informing the hospital of the government of Zambia’s decision to evacuate Mr Kambwili for diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
In a letter signed by Dr Kondwelani John Mateyo to Apollo Hospital of India, it was confirmed that Mr Kambwili was unwell and required specialised diagnostic evaluation but by January 29, things had suddenly changed as Mr Kambwili’s medical evacuation had been revoked after he refused to be blackmailed.
According to the Ministry of Health, Mr Kambwili is a known severe obstructive apnoea (OSA) patient previously on home continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which was dispensed a few years ago in South Africa.
“His symptoms have therefore recurred with frequent apnoea sleep episodes, fragment sleep and profound daytime sommolence, with subsequent impaired quality of life and blood pressure. He has co-morbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension for which he is managed in another centre but notable on a multitude of medication including nebivolol, isorsobide monotrate, furosemide and irbesartan among other complications,” the letter to Apollo Hospital read.
Following the recommendation for evacuation, Government moved to procure an air ticket and an itinerary was delivered to Mr Kambwili only to be cancelled forcing Mr Kambwili to take the initiative to save his own life by going by road to South Africa.
The State was then ordered to surrender Mr Kambwili’s passport so that he could be allowed to be evacuated, which passport was to be confiscated by the State at Chirundu border.
And Cosmo Mumba has questioned government’s double standards and inconsistences in the manner it has handled Mr Kambwili’s matter and said opposition political parties are today expected to be at Maina Soko Medical Centre to visit Mr Kambwili.
Mr Mumba, the president of the New Revolution Party says it was ironical that Government had decided to revoke the medical evacuation for Mr Kambwili and yet did not want him to use family resources to travel to South Africa to seek medical attention.