Tendai Gukutikwa
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
A TOTAL of 97 children from Mutare are set to undergo corrective surgeries after being identified during a recent two-day pediatric outreach at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital (VCPH).
The outreach, held in partnership between the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Cure Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe (CCHZ) and Celebration Health, brought specialist care closer to families who have long struggled to access it due to cost and distance barriers in the province.
In an interview, VCPH medical superintendent, Dr Hillary Makiwa said 67 of the children were diagnosed with orthopedic conditions such as bone and muscle deformities, while 20 had plastic surgery conditions, including cleft lip and palate or burn contractures.
He said all have been placed on the CCHZ waiting list, and will be called for treatment in Bulawayo at different intervals.
“These are children who may have been living with their conditions for years, unable to access or afford specialist care. Now, they will receive life-changing surgeries free of charge. A team of surgeons also managed to conduct 28 procedures on 20 hernia patients during the outreach itself,” said Dr Makiwa.
He said most cases encountered during the outreach were orthopedic, with conditions such as bowed legs, knock knees, clubfoot, brittle bones, neglected trauma and windswept deformities dominating.
The two-day clinic, which ran from July 31 to August 1, screened a total of 122 children, 93 on the first day and 29 on the second.
Dr Makiwa said while the turnout did not surpass the initial target of 200, it reflected the success of awareness campaigns in the province.
“More frequent outreaches in Manicaland may increase the turnout in future. It was still a significant number, given the short mobilisation period, and the fact that families did not have to travel far for this first screening stage,” he explained.
Dr Makiwa said the initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure equitable access to specialised pediatric care across all provinces.
“This work aligns perfectly with Vision 2030, which aims to achieve an upper-middle-income society where no one is left behind in terms of healthcare access. The main focus is to treat children while building a sustainable healthcare delivery system that is inclusive and far-reaching,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dr Makiwa confirmed that CCHZ had confirmed they would continue the outreach model in Manicaland.
“We are committed to ensuring these children get the help they need. It was not just about surgery, but about giving them the chance to lead full, healthy lives. The clinic is, not only about treating patients, but also building long-term systems for consistent access to expert services. It presents an opportunity for skill transfer between visiting surgeons and our local medical personnel, which will enhance pediatric services at our hospital in the long run,” said Dr Makiwa.
He urged communities to continue identifying children in need of such services and take advantage of future outreaches.
Caregivers who attended the outreach expressed gratitude for the chance to have their children assessed by specialists without making the costly journey to Bulawayo.
Mr Tawanda Mupanguri from Sakubva, a parent whose child received hernia surgery, said he was grateful she had finally been operated on as she had been living in pain.
“My daughter’s hernia used to swell painfully, and I was always afraid it would get worse. The operation was done here for free. It feels like a burden has been lifted from my family,” he said.
Another guardian, Mrs Tsitsi Nyamande, whose nephew was waitlisted for a cleft lip operation, thanked the team.
“People used to stare at my nephew, and that made her feel uncomfortable, even though he is still young. Now we have been told that he will have the surgery in Bulawayo, and we cannot wait to see him smile without the cleft. This is a dream come true for us,” she said.
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