Piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen: Mozambique’s health sector is under intense scrutiny after a shocking incident involving a piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen came to light.
The surgical blunder at the Maputo Military Hospital was only discovered after the patient underwent further treatment at a South African facility.
The cloth, visibly marked with the hospital’s name, had been inside the patient since 2021.
Viral Video Exposes Medical Negligence in Mozambique
The scandal broke after a four-minute video of the operation circulated on social media, showing the removal of a piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen. The disturbing footage quickly went viral, sparking outrage across Mozambique and prompting an official response from both the medical board and government institutions.
Commission of Inquiry Set Up to Investigate Piece of Cloth Inside a Patient’s Abdomen
In response to the public uproar, the Mozambican Order of Doctors has launched a full commission of inquiry. Gilberto Manhiça, the association’s chairperson, confirmed that a detailed probe will seek to uncover how the piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen was overlooked for so long, despite existing surgical protocols that demand the counting of all items before and after an operation.
Maputo Military Hospital Admits Cloth May Have Been Used to Stop Bleeding
In a surprising twist, hospital officials speculated that the piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen may have been deliberately used as an emergency measure to stop internal bleeding during surgery. While not standard medical practice, such a move might have been taken under extreme circumstances, according to Manhiça.
Hospital Statement Acknowledges Grave Error and Launches Internal Investigation
The Maputo Military Hospital has formally acknowledged the case and launched its own multi-sector internal investigation. Officials now urge the patient and his family to cooperate, stating that further facts surrounding the piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen are needed to understand how it was forgotten.
“We recognize the seriousness of what happened and deeply regret it,” the hospital said in a statement, promising accountability if negligence is confirmed.
Medical Community and Public Called to Assist with Information
Authorities are encouraging citizens, health professionals, and organizations with knowledge about this or similar incidents to come forward. The Mozambique Medical Association believes that external information could help clarify how the piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen was left unnoticed for years, and prevent repeat occurrences.
Calls for Reforms After Piece of Cloth Inside a Patient’s Abdomen Sparks National Debate
The horrifying discovery has reopened conversations about medical accountability in Mozambique. Many are calling for stricter enforcement of surgical protocols and regular audits in government-run hospitals to ensure that tragedies like the piece of cloth inside a patient’s abdomen never happen again.
