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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
A Chitungwiza teenage boy who was seriously injured in an explosion in January when he connected a fire cracker to a solar panel and used his tongue to test current flow is facing health complications after health professionals delayed to perform a major operation of reconstructing his lips.
The third operation was supposed to be done between June and July, but it failed after the family failed to raise the required funds.
Mrs Rudo Munhungaupi, the mother of Godfrey Munhungaupi (13), said her son was now facing health challenges since his mouth was becoming smaller, with saliva always coming out uncontrollably.
Moreover, tubes which he uses to take in liquids are now loose to such an extent that they pull out easily.
“My child is still battling for life, I am appealing to the health professionals to intervene and perform the required operation,” said Mrs Munhungaupi.
Mrs Munhungaupi said some money was raised by well-wishers to pay the medical equipment that was needed to perform the major operation of constructing the boy’s lips at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, but nothing materialised.
She said health professionals were promising to act, but there were other patients in the queue to be operated on, making it difficult for Godfrey to get urgent help.
Godfrey survives on liquids such as milk, which he takes via the tubes. Recently, the Department of Social Welfare rescued him by paying for the second operation, a minor one at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, which reconstructed his chin.
Once all the operations are done, doctors have suggested the boy needs to go for plastic surgery outside the country.
Godfrey was in Grade 5 at Dungwiza Primary School in Chitungwiza when the incident occurred.
He sustained serious facial injuries, his tongue was split into two and his teeth were removed by the explosion.
Well-wishers can contact Ms Munhungaupi on 0776878380.
Online Reporter