Gov't fires Sbrana sex pest
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday October 12, 2018 13:50
Dr Namendwa Kuboka Leech was given until tomorrow (October 13, 2018) to leave the country. In an interview with Mmegi, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoH&W) chief public relations officer Doreen Motshegwa said Leech’s contract was terminated after the ministry’s investigations found out that the doctor was unprofessional and unethical in dealing with his patients.
Even though Leech was found guilty of raping an old woman in his home country back in 2002 where he was sentenced to five years in prison, he escaped prison after being employed by MoH&W. The ministry however pointed out that it was not aware of his past crimes when hiring him.
“The ministry was not aware of his previous crimes. It is however important to note that the ministry employs based on letters of good standing from country of origin. The ministry works with other organisations and government ministries when hiring from outside,” she noted. Motshegwa further explained they had standards placed to ensure patients were safe. She further added that the ministry was working with other organisations to ensure that patients remained safe and trust the health system. She said Leech’s identified victims would be counselled.
According to one of Leech’s patient who was also the catalyst behind his deportation [names withheld for ethical reasons], who was hospitalised at Sbrana hospital for five months, she alleged that together with other female patients, the Kenyan and some other doctors verbally and emotionally abused them.
“I witnessed abuse they do to people and the harsh living conditions there. Upon being discharged from the hospital, I took in a young woman who stayed with me for over a year. We used to go to Sbrana for check-ups and were seen by Dr Leech. Last year, she [young woman] opened up to me about the alleged rape that occurred when she went for check-up. She said he offered her a lift under pretence that he would drop her off at home only to take her to his home with a gun on her head and raped her,” she said.
This source also claims that there was also another lady patient who suffered sexual harassment at the hands of this Kenyan doctor and ended up stopping going for her check-ups as Sbrana. As if that was not enough, the doctor is alleged to have taken clothes amounting to P1,000 from that patient and refused to pay. He is also accused of taking cellphones and other gadgets from patients.
“He even visited us at home and made us go for check-ups that were never registered. Those check-ups took place in his office. He would talk to us about his personal life from being a soldier and also show us his photos. When we lodged our complaint, the police dismissed it until we got hold of the minister. That is when the case was opened against him. We have since seen more patients speaking out,” she said.
She pointed out that most of the patients, her included, stopped going for their check-ups at Sbrana as they feared for their lives. This led to her seeking medical attention in private hospitals and going for rehabilitation in South Africa even though it was expensive.