Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu, Health and Gender Editor
FOR Tinotenda Murapa (8), a Grade Two pupil from Mutare, and her mother Ms Patience Mayeka (42), a 600-kilometre journey to Bulawayo was well worth it after Tinotenda was successfully screened and deemed eligible for a free cleft lip and palate surgery at Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday.
She had previously made four unsuccessful attempts to secure this vital surgery in Harare.
A 38-member team of medical experts from the United States of America and Canada, under the Operation of Hope Worldwide Mission, are stationed at Mpilo Central Hospital, where children born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities are being screened and offered life-changing surgeries free of charge.
An elated Ms Mayeka shared her experience with Sunday News, expressing her joy that Tinotenda, who had initially been rejected for surgery due to a heart condition, had finally been accepted.
“I had brought Tinotenda for screening many times before, but she was always turned away because doctors discovered a heart condition. They advised that the cleft lip operation could only proceed after addressing the heart issue. Thankfully, we had an opportunity to travel to Italy in 2024, where she received the heart operation and is now recovering well. After that, I saw a message about the Operation of Hope Worldwide Mission coming to Zimbabwe again. I packed my bags and came to Bulawayo for screening and this time, they said she’s eligible. She’ll undergo surgery next week,” said a visibly overjoyed Ms Mayeka.
A doctor from the mission explained that heart conditions are commonly found in children with cleft lips and palates, and that the two conditions often co-occur.
“Children with certain birth deformities can present with multiple conditions. For us, it’s critical that we assess the heart and lungs before surgery, especially since anaesthesia is involved. That’s why we travel with a large medical team to ensure every child is thoroughly examined and the surgery is safe,” he said.
When Ms Mayeka gave birth to Tinotenda, she initially isolated herself and her child due to stigma and lack of understanding.
“I used to hide my daughter from the public because she was born with a cleft lip. I didn’t fully understand the condition until I received counselling. Breastfeeding is also very difficult with this deformity; some mothers can’t continue past two months because the baby struggles to suckle. I thought I was alone, but the counselling helped me realise that many others across the world share this experience,” she said.
She noted that the surgery is usually very expensive, and families in similar situations need both emotional and financial support. The availability of free treatment, she said, was a noble act of compassion. Ms Mayeka added that Tinotenda faces challenges such as difficulty eating and speaking clearly, with some of her speech not being audible.
Lacy Willhite, a nurse from the US who travelled with the mission team, said the organisation has been coming to Zimbabwe for 39 years, offering free surgeries.
“The number of children needing surgery varies each year depending on how widely the message spreads. Last year, we treated around 85 children. The programme started in Harare, but we realised that most of the children came from this part of the country, yet no one was offering surgeries here. That’s when we shifted our operations to Bulawayo. We always monitor where people come from and how far they travel to reach us,” she said.
She noted that the procedures are simple and quick, with most children going home just a day after the operation.
“The look on their faces when they see their new smile is priceless. It’s incredible. Anyone with a child or grandchild with this condition should bring them in for screening, there’s no reason to leave them untreated when help is free,” she urged.
Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited has been partnering with Operation of Hope Worldwide for the past 16 years, supporting 100 of the estimated 250 children born annually in Zimbabwe with cleft lips and palates.
“Our goal is to touch as many lives as possible across the country. We aim to provide healthcare support to children who would otherwise never afford these transformative surgeries,” said Ms Ropafadzo Gwanetsa, Head of Corporate Affairs and Data Governance at Schweppes Zimbabwe.
“We’ve also seen patients presenting with burn wounds and various lumps during these missions. Our hope is to continue supporting the initiative and to mobilise more resources through collaboration between the public and private sectors, so that even more lives can be changed.”
@NyembeziMu
Peter Tanyanyiwa