Mozambican hospital investigates death of Angolan activist’s child detained in Maputo

Maputo Central Hospital announced on Monday that it was investigating the death of the newborn baby of Angolan citizen Gelson Emanuel Quintas “Man-Genas”, who is in the custody of the authorities, along with his family in Maputo.

“In fact, work is underway, which involves the department of gynecology and obstetrics, the department of paediatrics and the management of the Central Hospital of Maputo. The study is being carried out because it is a case requiring the participation of all these sectors, but also of the ministry itself [da Saúde]”said Justino Madeira, emergency spokesman for the Banco de Socorros at Maputo Central Hospital, quoted this Monday by O País newspaper.

The newborn daughter of Angolan whistleblower Man-Genas died on April 7, two days after her mother, who is also under the care of the authorities, gave birth at Maputo Central Hospital, the country’s main medical facility.

According to Justino Madeira, the waters broke five days before the authorities took the wife of “Genas Man” to the hospital for delivery, putting both the baby and the mother at risk.

“In this particular case, it was because the waters broke five days before delivery, and often with premature rupture of the membranes, there is a risk of complications for both the mother and the fetus. […]She was already in pain. Unfortunately, in the end, he had a premature rupture of the bag. This is already a risk, because there is a possibility of infection of the mother, as well as the fetus, ”explained the HCM representative.

The Mozambican Network of Human Rights Defenders this Monday demanded an investigation into the death of the child, accusing the authorities of “negligence” because the woman was not provided with prenatal care.

“We can say that there was negligence on the part of our state in the first place. In our conversations with the hospital, the doctors said that the condition in which she was admitted to the hospital did not give the baby much chances for life,” said the President of the Mozambique Network of Human Rights Defenders, Adriano Nuvunga.

Last month, a group of deputies from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), the main opposition party, said at a press conference that Man-Genas was “fearing food poisoning.”

“Man-Genas fears that he may become a victim of food poisoning. His wife, who is pregnant, claims she has been denied medical care for over a month,” said Olivio Quilumbo, who led a UNITA parliamentary delegation that visited Maputo between 21 and 26 March.

Man-Genas became notorious for using the YouTube channel to post several posts about alleged drug trafficking in Angola, with alleged involvement of the political elite and authorities.

The allegations led a parliamentary commission to question Angola’s interior minister, Eugenio César Laborinho, who denied any involvement of high-ranking security forces.