MDZIMBA HIGH TEACHER DIES OF COVID-19

MBABANE - The Ministry of Education and Training has lost an educator to a COVID-19-related sickness. 

Boy Magagula (53), who was a History teacher at Mdzimba High School, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Lubombo Referral Hospital where he had been quarantined.
It is worth noting that this is the first teacher to die due to a COVID-19- related sickness. Magagula’s death comes at a time when the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has taken government, the Ministry of Education and Training in particular, to court over the reopening of schools.

Reopening

The teachers’ association is against the reopening of schools amid the spread of COVID-19. Ever since the application was filed in court, the association has been arguing that schools were not ready to reopen. According to an impeccable source, the deceased educator started having flu-like symptoms on the week of June 29, 2020. This is when teachers were ordered to return to schools and assist with preparations for the reopening, which was set for July 6, 2020. The source said Magagula reported for work on Monday, June 29, 2020 and worked the whole day.

However, he said on the following day (Tuesday, June 30, 2020) Magagula fell sick and decided to seek medical attention after work. According to the source, he went to Hhukwini Clinic where he was given cold and flu medication, which he took and continued to go to school as he felt better. However, on Sunday, July 5, 2020, which was the day before schools reopened for Form V classes, the source said the educator relayed that his situation had worsened.

Decision

As a result, the source said, he took a decision to go to hospital. This was after he had sought the assistance of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), popularly known as 977.
The paramedics, who according to the Ministry of Health are designated to attend to COVID-19-related emergencies, did not respond to his call for assistance. After not getting assistance from EMS, the teacher is said to have requested a colleague’s help. The fellow teacher took him to Mbabane Government Hospital where he was admitted and put on oxygen therapy upon arrival. Later on, the source said, the educator was tested for COVID-19 and his test results reflected that he was infected with the virus. 

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