A SISTER to the Lusaka lawyer who poisoned her son and attempted to kill herself has sought an interim order that Namwene Kamoto Phiri be admitted to the care and supervision of the Chainama Hills College Hospital.

In an affidavit in support of originating summons filed in the Lusaka High Court, Esther Phiri Ng’ambi revealed that her sister was still trying to kill herself as she had previously attempted to remove her cannula as well as other medical devices.

Ng’ambi wants an order that she be appointed as Namwene’s Supporter, within the meaning of the law, and until further order of the court, to represent her rights and interests.

She also wants an order that Namwene be accorded the full privacy, dignity and confidentiality as to her person, her state of health and her personal information, as it is her entitlement under the law for the duration that she is admitted to a mental health facility.

Ng’ambi stated that she was a primary care giver within the meaning of the law.

She stated that Namwene was admitted to Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital on or around February 16, 2022 after taking a harmful substance which left her unconscious.

Ng’ambi stated that upon gaining consciousness after the incident, Namwene had attempted to remove her cannula and other medical devices with a view of harming herself.

“That the patient appears, at intermediate times, to be weak, incoherent, and not fully capable of taking her own decisions and is still undergoing treatment for her physical ailments and injuries arising out of the incident,” Ng’ambi stated.

Ng’ambi stated that to the maximum extent possible, and whilst preserving her rights and dignity, Namwene remained restrained to the hospital bed, to prevent her from harming herself.

“That the patient was on further medical advice received on Saturday, 19 February 2022, moved to another health facility at Chainama Hills College Hospital for enhanced health care,” she stated.

Ng’ambi stated that there was need to assess Namwene’s mental health because there was still a risk that she’d attempt to harm herself.

She stated that even whilst the patient was undergoing treatment at Chainama Hills Hospital, it was necessary and desirable that her rights and interests be protected.

“That I hereby volunteer and confirm my consent to be appointed as and agree to act as the Supporter of the said Patient,” Ng’ambi stated.

Ng’ambi stated that it was necessary that Namwene be maintained at the said Chainama Hospital under the care of a mental health practitioner, so that she may receive the desired mental health care to protect her person, her dignity and her life until further order of the court.

She said Namwene was currently under guard of the Zambia Police Service, who have an officer stationed outside her hospital room or accompanying her at all times.

Ng’ambi said, as a result, Namwene has had limited access to third parties other than medical staff and her legal representatives but has not been charged with any criminal offence.

Last week Thursday, police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga disclosed that Namwene was found unconscious on the bed while her son was dead with foam on his mouth.

“Ibex police station received a report on 15th February,2022 in which Male Moya Mpehle aged 28 of plot number 52 in Ibex Hill off Twin Palm Road reported that a Male Juvenile Ayden Sipalo aged 2 of Ibex Hill died after being given a suspected poison known as blue death insect powder Doom by the mother female Namwene Phiri aged 31, a lawyer for Food Reserve Agency after the body was found lying on the bed with foam of vomits on the mouth and the mother in a similar condition with a written statement beside confirming having committed suicide written on 15th February, 2022,” stated Hamoonga.

“The body of the deceased child was deposited in University Teaching Hospital Mortuary on 15th February, 2022 and Postmortem has been conducted today. The mother is still admitted to Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital as she attempted to commit suicide and survived although she is in a critical condition. She is under police guard.”