I am not dying now, says sata

I am not dying now, says sata
By Bivan Saluseki and Amos Malupenga
Sunday April 27, 2008 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front president Michael Sata has declared that he is not going to die but will soon come back from South Africa. And health minister Dr Brian Chituwo yesterday said President Levy Mwanawasa has wished Sata a quick recovery. He described his condition as stable.

Meanwhile, PF vice-president Dr Guy Scott yesterday said Sata was out of danger.
He said doctors attending to Sata found three blood clots in his heart which they managed to break.

“Very little damage has been done to his heart,” said Dr Scott.

And in a brief interview before being evacuated to South Africa on Friday night, Sata - who had difficulties talking - said he was fine.

"I am fine. I am not dying now. I will be back soon," said Sata before being put on an ambulance at Lusaka's Care for Business (CfB) hospital around midnight.

Sata was evacuated around 01:30 hours on a chartered Netcare air ambulance from South Africa.

He had to wait at the airport for about 30 minutes for the air ambulance to arrive while doctors continuously attended to him.
Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti also rushed to the airport to see Sata off.

At some point, Dr Miti asked Dr Kaseba if Sata had any travel documents but Dr Kaseba said her husband did not have any since his passport was with the state.
Dr Miti said the issue of Sata's passport would be sorted out soon.

Sata muttered a few words before being put on the plane.
While on the plane, Sata struggled to walk with the aid of the medical personnel.
Before departure, Dr Kaseba said Sata would be fine.

Asked if it was true that Sata suffered from a heart attack, Dr Kaseba said: "I am not the attending doctor."

In an interview later, Dr Miti said since it was a medical emergency, Sata did not need any passport. Dr Miti said the government chartered the air ambulance for Sata and would meet all his medical expenses. He said Zambia's High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula was expected to meet Sata at the airport in South Africa.
Dr Miti said Sata was an important national leader and the government would do everything possible to assist him. Sata was accompanied by his wife and another family member.

Among those that were at the airport to see off Sata were Lusaka lawyers Mumba Kapumpa and Anthony Kasolo, a few PF cadres and a family member Miles Sampa.
Sata was admitted to Care for Business Hospital on Friday afternoon after what was suspected to be a heart attack. His condition was said to be very serious, hence his evacuation.

And health minister Dr Brian Chituwo yesterday said in an interview that President Mwanawasa has wished Sata a quick recovery. He said President Mwanawasa instructed him to arrange for Sata's evacuation as soon as he was informed about his illness.

Dr Chituwo said he in turn instructed Dr Miti to quickly arrange for Sata's evacuation.
"Dr Miti moved swiftly and within two hours, all arrangements were concluded," Dr Chituwo said.

"The airport was opened up and since it was an emergency, Mr Sata was allowed to leave the country without the passport. Arrangements will be made to send his passport later. Mr Sata was finally evacuated at about 01:30 hours and they arrived in South Africa about 03:30 hours.

He was received by our High Commissioner there Mr Mbula who accompanied them to Mill Park Hospital where he is admitted. Mr Mbula only left the hospital around 06:00 hours. The doctors attending to him have said his condition is stable."

Dr Chituwo said local doctors had recommended Sata's immediate evacuation because his condition was serious.

"This is an acute episode that had government not acted, I am afraid the consequences would have been perhaps different," Dr Chituwo said. "You know he was evacuated on an air ambulance so doctors continued attending to him on the flight; there was a cardiologist on board and another doctor.

This helped to stabilise his condition."
Dr Chituwo only said Sata suffered a heart attack but refused to give more details, saying medical illnesses were confidential.