Chronicle Editor
Raymond Jaravaza and Trish Mukwazo, Chronicle Writers
AT the tender age of three months, Bonginkosi Mathe (13), a Grade Four pupil at King George VI Children’s Centre in Bulawayo unexpectedly suffered a minor stroke, which affected his ears and resulted in hearing impairment.
Despite this early setback, Bonginkosi’s determination and the unwavering support of his family and school community have been his guiding lights.
For over a decade, his family tried everything within their means to seek medical assistance for the young boy, an exercise that seemed futile, until they turned to sign language to communicate with Bonginkosi.
King George VI Children’s Centre, renowned for its dedication to children with disabilities, has provided Bonginkosi with an inclusive and supportive educational environment.
The school’s specialised programmes and compassionate teachers have been instrumental in helping him navigate his hearing impairment, ensuring that he receives the same quality education as his peers.
Yesterday, Bonginkosi was among many underprivileged children who benefited from free hearing tests and hearing aids provided by Hear to Aid in collaboration with The Ear Centre, which is located along Josiah Tongogara Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue in Bulawayo’s central business district.
The programme started yesterday and ends today.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the centre and observed a group of children with hearing impairments, some from as far as Tsholotsho, queuing to get assistance.
In an interview, Bongani’s older sister, Ms Bridgette Mathe said: “My younger brother suffered a stroke when he was just three months old and it affected his hearing. The hearing impairment also affects his speech, he hardly hears anything unless someone screams.”
Ms Mathe said they resorted to sign language to communicate with him.
“We are very grateful to Hear to Aid for offering such life-changing free services to my sibling,” she said.
Mrs Angelina Ndlovu said she had to travel from Tsholotsho to take her granddaughter, Ayanda Moyo for the ear testing exercise after she got wind of the programme via social media.
Young Ayanda, a Form Two learner at Dinyane High School in Tsholotsho District, developed hearing difficulties five years ago.
“She started complaining of pain in both her ears some five years ago and then pus started coming out from her ears and that’s how the hearing problems started. We even tried to take her to specialists, but could not afford the charges since her mother is not employed,” said Mrs Ndlovu
“When I heard about the free hearing testing in Bulawayo, I didn’t think twice about using my last savings to bring my granddaughter to Bulawayo for this programme. I pray that the specialists do their best to assist my granddaughter who is very brilliant with a promising bright future.”
Mr Mkhonzeni Sibanda, a local audiologist, said Hear to Aid is an organisation based in Harare that assists unprivileged children with hearing complications by offering them hearing aids.
“We hope to make a significant change in these children’s lives to tackle the challenges associated with deafness as it affects their academic performances and social lives,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said since the launch of the programme two years ago, they have assisted over 100 beneficiaries.
“This is the second phase of the programme to be conducted in Bulawayo. Hear to Aid has been moving across the country targeting children suffering from hearing impairments. The next stop will be in Hwange and Victoria Falls,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said they hope to get more funding and partnerships to assist as many children as possible.
One of the founders of Hear to Aid, Mr Nicolai Petersen, said: “We managed to source funding from international partners as well as partnering with Great Nordic, a company based in Denmark, for us to be able to assist over hundred children from around the country.”
Ms Celina Gammelgaard Winther and Ms Trine Moller Orebro are volunteers who travelled to Zimbabwe from SDU University of Southern Denmark to gain hands-on experience in audiometry after they were inspired by the work of Hear to Aid.
Audiometry is the measurement of the range and sensitivity of a person’s sense of hearing.
“This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help children who have hearing challenges. We look forward to travelling around Zimbabwe assisting more unprivileged children,” said Ms Winther.
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