Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]
KHULU Philip Moyo, the man who went to South Africa for 60 years without any trace, has finally been discharged from Mpilo Central Hospital and taken to Entembeni Old People’s Home in Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb.
Mr Moyo made headlines after he was picked by an ambulance crew in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb and taken to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was admitted from December 26 last year until Tuesday.
Upon admission, doctors noted with concern that Mr Moyo whose relatives have still not reached out to him, suffered from severe malnutrition and arthritis.
Although his story has taken social media by storm, Mr Moyo, originally from Nemane village in Tsholotsho district, is yet to find his relatives who are willing to take him in after he was discharged from hospital.
His daughter once visited him in hospital, promising to come back, but she never resurfaced. Civic leaders from his home area also visited him and tried to help him connect with his family, but nothing materialised.
Mr Moyo said in the past 60 years, he had a family in South Africa including four children who did not want to be part of his life anymore.
The elderly man left the country without a passport as they were not required then and started a family with his wife who is from Botswana.
Mr Moyo also had a child in the then Rhodesia, but he cannot remember the name of his girlfriend or the child.
Mpilo Central Hospital public relations officer, Matron Norma Mabhena said Mr Moyo was taken to Entembeni Old People’s Home after hospital authorities failed to locate his relatives.
She said when they discharged their patient from the hospital, he had recovered and managed to walk on his own.
“We are happy that our patient recovered and has been finally moved to Entembeni Old People’s home where he will stay since no one from his family came forward. He spent more than a month at our hospital,” said Matron Mabhena.
“He had recovered compared to the day when he first came here. Mr Moyo was all smiles when he left on Tuesday and he could stand upright and walk by himself, a development which makes us appreciate the great work done by our staff.”
Matron Mabhena urged members of the public to prioritise preserving family relations.
“This has been a journey, but we are happy that finally, he has found people who are capable of taking care of him. We also encourage members of the public to desist from abandoning families for whatever reason, these people are all that we have,” she said.
Online Reporter