By Rahim Abdul
A 55-year-old woman identified as Grace Aaron has died after reportedly consuming excessive amounts of locally brewed alcohol, kachasu, on an empty stomach in Monkey Bay, Mangochi District.
Monkey Bay Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Alice Sichali, confirmed the tragic incident in an interview on Tuesday, saying the deceased passed away on Monday afternoon after collapsing at her home in Muonda Village, Traditional Authority Nankumba.
According to Sichali, preliminary investigations revealed that Aaron, who was known in the area for brewing and selling kachasu, began drinking the local spirit early in the morning without eating anything.
“She consumed the alcohol on an empty stomach and later complained of dizziness before collapsing,” said Sichali.
“She was rushed to Billy’s Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival,”she added.
A medical report from the hospital indicated that Aaron died from hypoglycemia a condition resulting from extremely low blood sugar levels aggravated by excessive alcohol consumption without food intake.
The police spokesperson expressed concern over rising cases of alcohol-related deaths in the area, particularly among women who brew and consume unregulated homemade spirits.
“This is not the first case we have registered this year.We continue advising community members to drink responsibly and to always eat before consuming alcohol to prevent such unfortunate incidents,”she explained.
Residents of Muonda Village described the late Grace Aaron as a friendly and hardworking woman who had been in the kachasu business for years to support her family.
“She was a kind woman who helped others in times of need,” said one neighbor. “It’s so sad that she died in such a painful way.”
Community leaders in the area have since urged locals to heed health advice and avoid excessive consumption of illicit alcohol, which is often unregulated and poses serious health risks.
Meanwhile, police say investigations are ongoing to determine whether the kachasu she consumed contained any harmful substances.
Grace Aaron’s body has since been released to her family for burial.
