Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
A BULAWAYO man who has been suffering from a rare skin condition for the past seven years after he was burnt by a chemical at his workplace is seeking financial assistance to go for treatment in China.
In an interview, Mr Tawanda Chivhenge (47) said only a small part of his hand and leg were burnt and he was taken to hospital where he was treated.
He said two months after treatment, he developed a rash that left his skin scarred as if the whole body had been burnt.
The rash is spreading and almost his whole body is now scarred, paralysing his left side. Mr Chivhenge said he has not been working for five years now as he is unable to do anything.
He said doctors have since ruled out cancer and they suspect that his body caught a virus from the printing paste that burnt him.
“I really do not understand how I became like this. Only a small part of my body was burnt when I was mixing the printing paste.
My bosses immediately took me to hospital. I got treatment almost immediately as they took me to a surgery where I was treated. The treatment I got seemed to have worked.
“However, after two months I developed some rash which was itchy and I scratched. It then turned into dry skin which would peel off on its own as if the whole body had been burnt,” he said.
Mr Chivhenge said at first the doctors suspected cancer but they have since ruled it out after the tests came out negative.
“The doctors are saying they do not have the proper machinery to diagnose the problem hence they have recommended that I travel to China,” he said.
Mr Chivhenge said living with the rare skin condition has been difficult, especially for his wife and children.
“I long quit my job as I cannot work. I now depend on my wife who is sending our children to school and helping us meet all our basics as a family,” he said.
Mr Chivhenge said he is working to raise the money to travel to China and those willing to assist him can contact him on 0773916385 or 0789642174.
Online Reporter