adminFIFTEEN children, living with correctable disabilities, have undergone life-changing surgical operations through a US$22 500 grant from Stanbic Bank.
It’s part of the bank’s commitment to offer affordable quality health care to Zimbabweans.
The grant was given to Cure Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe (CCHOZ), which is the only healthcare organisation that offers free paediatric surgical interventions for children, between the ages of 0-18, with treatable disabilities.
CURE Zimbabwe is a Christian non-profit making organisation that opened its doors in 2021 and, so far, has been a place of hope and healing for over 1700 children living with treatable disabilities.
It operates a global network of children’s hospitals pairing world-class surgical and spiritual care to serve children with treatable disabilities and their families.
CURE Zimbabwe engages partners such as Stanbic Bank to fund surgical operations for treatable disabilities such as bowed legs, knock knees, clubfoot, brittle bones, windswept, neglected trauma, and burn contractures.
The 15 children who underwent the surgeries last week include boys and girls who had lost all hope of ever healing or recovering from their conditions.
One of the children had been wheelchair-bound since birth and was suffering from crouch gait – an abnormal walking condition characterised by the upward bending of the ankles (ankle dorsiflexion); bent knees (knee flexion), and bent hips (hip flexion) – is now on his way to full recovery and walking properly.
Stanbic Bank chief executive, Solomon Nyanhongo, said:
“Our tour of the wards has been an eye-opener for the Stanbic Bank staff.
“This life-changing and transformational work CURE Zimbabwe is doing is astonishing.
“To see someone come in literally unable to do anything and leave full of life and hope through the surgical operations gives us satisfaction that we are, indeed, contributing to the welfare of the members of the community in which we operate.”
He added:
“This is an unfamiliar field yet of paramount importance and, as Stanbic Bank, we are prepared to partner with you in carrying out this phenomenal life-changing work and uplift the underprivileged going forward.”
Stanbic Bank Head Public Sector, Sarah Charangwa, added:
“Stanbic Bank takes a keen interest in the health sector, and we are committed to support the government by contributing towards the delivery of the National Health Strategy 2021 to 2025.
“The partnership with CURE Zimbabwe fits this bill in every way especially as it promotes the early identification of disabilities and prevention through corrective surgery therefore eliminating possibility of permanent disabilities.”
Charangwa said the fact that children born with disabilities are often shunned and stigmatised galvanised Stanbic Bank to play its part in ensuring that the 15 children are given a chance to fulfil their dreams while contributing to national development.
CURE Zimbabwe executive director, Jonathan Simpson, said they were humbled by the gesture. – Agency
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter