05/09/2026
CHIPATA WOMAN SUES WELLSPRING HOSPITAL FOR K5 MILLION OVER RETAINED SURGICAL SWAB
By ZR Reporter
A Chipata woman has sued Wellspring Speciality Hospital for K5 million, alleging that medical personnel left a surgical swab in her abdomen during a Caesarean section, resulting in a second operation to remove it.
Mwila Kowa is seeking the K5 million in damages, together with compensation for pain and suffering, physical injury, emotional and psychological distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
She is also claiming medical expenses, loss of income and productivity, costs arising from additional surgery and prolonged hospitalisation, as well as damages for possible future medical complications linked to the alleged retained foreign object.
According to court documents filed in the High Court, Kowa was admitted to Wellspring Speciality Hospital on May 26, 2025, at about 06:00 hours.
She said she underwent a Caesarean section at around 11:00 hours under the care of Dr Kabwe and other members of the hospital’s medical team.
Kowa alleges that after the operation, she developed severe abdominal pain and discomfort, together with recurrent illness and other complications which she says were not consistent with a normal recovery.
She claims that although she sought further medical attention from the same hospital, the underlying cause of her condition remained undiagnosed for a considerable period.
Court documents state that subsequent investigations conducted at different health facilities allegedly revealed the presence of a foreign object in her abdomen.
Kowa was later subjected to an exploratory laparotomy at Chipata Central Hospital, where a surgical swab was allegedly discovered and removed.
In her claim, Kowa alleges that the swab was negligently left inside her during the Caesarean section and describes the incident as a breach of the medical standard of care.
She argues that Wellspring Speciality Hospital owed her a duty of care but failed to ensure that no surgical material remained in her body after the procedure.
The matter is now before the High Court.
credit Zambia Reports | September 5, 2026
