She fled xenophobic violence carrying one life, but before reaching the safety of home, another battle suddenly began as she was allegedly assaulted while already in double pain.
Halima Thom, a Malawian mother among those repatriated from South Africa, claims she was assaulted by health workers while giving birth after going into labour on a bus heading home.
Halima says labour pains started mid-journey, forcing an emergency stop at Mesina Hospital where she expected urgent care.
Instead, she alleges she was beaten and humiliated.
“The health workers beat me and abused me, asking why I had come to give birth at their hospital,” Halima alleged.
The mother from Sorgin Village under Senior Chief Mbenje in Nsanje says the ordeal turned a desperate escape from xenophobia into a double tragedy, where she was in severe labour pain yet still faced alleged mistreatment.
But despite all the pain and trauma she endured along the way, Halima still had a reason to smile. She safely gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, and both mother and child are reported to be in good health.
Her account highlights the harsh experiences faced by some Malawians caught in the mass repatriation exercise from South Africa.
The Malawi Government is currently repatriating citizens who have fled South Africa following fears of xenophobic attacks, with hundreds already back home and more expected as the evacuation continues.
Halima Thom, a Malawian mother among those repatriated from South Africa, claims she was assaulted by health workers while giving birth after going into labour on a bus heading home.
Halima says labour pains started mid-journey, forcing an emergency stop at Mesina Hospital where she expected urgent care.
Instead, she alleges she was beaten and humiliated.
“The health workers beat me and abused me, asking why I had come to give birth at their hospital,” Halima alleged.
The mother from Sorgin Village under Senior Chief Mbenje in Nsanje says the ordeal turned a desperate escape from xenophobia into a double tragedy, where she was in severe labour pain yet still faced alleged mistreatment.
But despite all the pain and trauma she endured along the way, Halima still had a reason to smile. She safely gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, and both mother and child are reported to be in good health.
Her account highlights the harsh experiences faced by some Malawians caught in the mass repatriation exercise from South Africa.
The Malawi Government is currently repatriating citizens who have fled South Africa following fears of xenophobic attacks, with hundreds already back home and more expected as the evacuation continues.
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