Fact checked: Zambian nurse did not swap close to 5,000 babies in 12 years at maternity ward

A recent story about a nurse said to have swapped about 5,000 babies at a maternity ward in University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Zambia, has been found to be untrue.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that according to Zambian Observer, a nurse, Elizabeth Mwewa, had confessed her sins on sick bed as she asked God for forgiveness.

The report claimed that the nurse confessed that she had exchanged over 5,000 babies during her service.

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According to a check by the General Nursing Council of Zambia, the claims are totally false and such nurse has never been employed.

In a press release published by the organisation on April 5, an investigation was launched into the matter and it was discovered that “there is no such a midwife on the GNCZ register, neither did such a midwife ever existed and later on worked in maternity ward at UTH”.

See the full statement obtained by independent fact checkers below:

In the earlier report, it was claimed that the nurse, who had terminal cancer, felt bad about her past sins and did not want to go to hell for them.

"I have terminal cancer and I know I will be dying soon. I wish to confess my sins before God and before all the affected people especially those who were giving birth at UTH during my service. I have found God, I am now born again. I have nothing to hide, In the 12 years I worked in the maternity ward at UTH, I swapped close to 5000 babies," Zambian Observer reported earlier.

Mwewa reportedly added that it became a habit and she used to do it for fun. According to Zambian Observer, she claimed she carried out the act for a duration of 12 years that she worked at the maternity ward of the hospital.

The sick woman was said to have explained that she is now born again and has nothing to hide. She also added that she has sinned against God and Zambians and would not want to go to hell for her past sins.

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The initial report has been updated, the source (Zambian observer) presented incorrect information and we apologise for reporting it.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng to enable us give our readers accurate and verified news.

The two-day training was organised by Africa Check, Africa’s first independent fact-checking organisation, in partnership with the International Press Centre (IPC), Nigeria's foremost media capacity development organization, with the support of the US Consulate in Nigeria.

The workshop tagged Post-Election Fact-Checking and Verification Training for Nigeria Journalists/Editors took place from Monday, March 25, to Tuesday, March 26, at GrandBee Suites Hotel, Ikeja GRA.

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Source: Legit.ng