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Health Reporters—
A group of local individuals have organised a fundraising dinner to take place in Harare tomorrow (Thursday), proceeds of which will be channeled towards medical bills of a five-year-old girl requiring an urgent operation in India. The five-year-old Natasha Sanyanga is suffering from aplastic anemia meaning her bone marrow and the blood cells found within the bone marrow are damaged.
Her red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are failing resulting in a weak immune system to fight off diseases.
In addition her blood does not clot meaning she has an increased risk of haemorrhaging to death if she gets hurts.
The dinner, to take place at Bliss Gardens in Mandara would draw music legend Oliver “Tuku” Mutukudzi, Afro Jazz artist, Selmor Mutukudzi, Baba Shupi and Tariro neGitare performing.
Selmor has already confirmed her performance at the dinner saying she is putting herself in the shoes of Silvia Sanyanga-Natasha’s mother.
“Honestly it is difficult to raise US$100 000 in a short space of time and I am doing this because I feel for the mother and the baby,” she said.
There would also be an auction of various items donated by different individuals at the dinner including some of Natasha’s paintings done at school.
“Tests done earlier this week show that all elements in her blood are decreasing and her condition is currently critical, requiring urgent medical attention,” said the group’s spokesperson Mrs Kurai Kingsley.
Mrs Kingsley, who is a collegue of Natasha’s mother, said the girl has since stopped going to pre-school for fear of infections or injury during play.
She said so far, they have raised approximately US$8 000, with the bulk of the amount coming from individuals.
“The bulk of the money that we have raised so far came from individuals who were donating as little as US$5. This means that every dollar makes a difference,” said Mrs Kingsley.
She said according to doctors, Natasha requires a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor to replace her failing bone marrow cells.
This procedure is not available in Zimbabwe and could only be done either in South Africa or India.
“The Sanyangas have been told that their daughter’s health is in a precarious state and have been asked to fly to India for treatment as soon as possible,” she said.
The required money should therefore be raised by Friday.
Anyone willing to help could contact Mrs Sanyanga on 0772 432 689 or Kurai Kingsley on 0772212304.
Donations could also be deposited into Natasha Sanyanga’s Stanbic account 0240067822002, branch Minerva.
Online Reporter