Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
For Ms Sibiziwe Matshazi of Gwanda, a heavy burden has finally been lifted after her nine-year-old grandson received medical assistance during a free surgical outreach programme held in Matabeleland South.
Ms Matshazi has been caring for the boy since birth after his father deserted the family upon learning of the child’s medical condition. For nine years she struggled to access the specialised care he needed.
Her grandson, Tyler Mushayanembwa, was among more than 200 patients who benefitted from the two-day outreach conducted at Gwanda, Maphisa and Filabusi hospitals through a partnership between Government, the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe and other partners.
The programme gave patients who had waited for years the opportunity to receive critical surgical services at no cost.
About 90 patients underwent operations, including general surgery, paediatric surgery, ear, nose and throat procedures, orthopaedics and urology. Most of the beneficiaries came from across the Matabeleland region.
The outreach aligns with the Government’s commitment to universal health coverage in line with Vision 2030.
“I have been struggling to get medical assistance for my nine-year-old grandson who was born with multiple conditions,” said Ms Matshazi.
“The boy’s father disappeared after learning that he needed expensive surgeries and left the child with my daughter. As a mother and grandmother, the burden was now on my shoulders. What hurt me most was that my son could not lead a normal life. Now that he has gone through surgery, I can breathe a sigh of relief and see him grow like any other child.”
Ms Matshazi said she saw notice of the outreach on social media and immediately made arrangements to bring her grandson for treatment.
For Ms Martha Nowakhe of Bulawayo, the outreach ended three years of difficulty for her nine-year-old son who had been living with a hernia.
“My son has been struggling to go to school and lead a normal life because of the hernia,” she said.
“I went to the hospital in Bulawayo, but I failed to see the doctor. I then saw a poster on Facebook about the free medical services and came to Gwanda Provincial Hospital, and now my son has been assisted. I had taken him to private health facilities, and they told me I had to pay US$600 for the surgery, but I didn’t have the money. I’m grateful for this outreach programme.”
Mr Hloniphani Ndlovu accompanied his wife, Ms Duduzile Nyathi, who had been living in pain since 2018.
“I accompanied my wife for an operation, and now she is recovering after undergoing surgery,” he said. “She has been living in pain since 2018, but we couldn’t afford the costs. The doctors said she had a hernia.”
Surgical Society of Zimbabwe secretary general Dr Precious Mutambanengwe said the outreach made a significant difference to patients and their families.
She noted that the team offered free consultations and performed free surgical procedures, with most operations involving hernia repairs and removal of masses in both children and adults.
All surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses offered their services voluntarily, and the team of about 50 health workers came from different facilities across the country.
“We have seen a need in the country when it comes to surgical services, but most particularly in Matabeleland South,” said Dr Mutambanengwe.
“As health staff, we need to meet people at their point of need. We don’t only have to wait for patients to come to us; hence this outreach which we hold annually. The true impact of the programme is immeasurable. You can see by the smiles on the faces, the parents’ faces, that a huge burden has been lifted. Their children can now go to school, and people can finally go to work without discomfort.”
Dr Mutambanengwe said the programme was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which provided facilities, drugs, equipment and staff, while other partners such as Celebration Health and DMD supplied surgical sundries.
Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Dr Andrew Muza said hosting the outreach was a major boost for healthcare delivery in the province.
“As a province, we have been privileged to host the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe. They have been working from health facilities in three districts, namely Maphisa, Filabusi and Gwanda, offering surgical and specialist services to our people who rarely have access to such,” said Dr Muza.
“We are grateful for the support, and we believe this has improved access to patient care within our region.
It is part of our ministry’s commitment to offer critical health care services to all.”
