Chronicle Editor
Raymond Jaravaza
AFTER almost seven years of crawling to school following the amputation of her leg after she was bitten by a snake, a 16-year-old Nkayi girl received an artificial leg, enabling her to finally enjoy the joy of walking.
On Sunday, Nomabutho Ncube and her guardian travelled to Harare to receive the artificial leg courtesy of orthopedic centre – Leonard Cheshire Disability.
The girl was attacked by a snake while in Grade Four and now she is in Form Two at Tsheli Secondary School in Nkayi.
The leg was amputated at Gweru Provincial Hospital, three months after she was attacked by the snake in 2016.
All along she has been struggling to go to school but can now start the second term with a new lease of life after the gift of walking was restored by the orthopedic centre.
“On Monday our staff picked up Nomabutho and her guardian from where we had arranged overnight accommodation for them and was brought to our centre to begin training on the process of putting on the artificial leg as well as taking it off.
“The process is called donning and doffing and she mastered the whole process very fast,” explained Leonard Cheshire Disability business development manager Mr Cacius Chigwida.
“The next process was teaching her how to walk in our training room, which is equipped with the tools to make the process smooth and comfortable.
“Remember she has not been walking for the last seven years so we wanted her to take the process one step at a time and we were happy with her progress. She is a fast learner.”
The organisation also bought tennis and school shoes for the girl and transport fare for Nomabutho and her guardian to travel back to Nkayi.
“The whole procedure as well as transport to come to Harare for the artificial leg was free of charge courtesy of Leonard Cheshire Disability. Her story really touched us as an organisation and we made the decision to assist her free of charge,” added Mr Chigwida.
The organisation made the pledge to assist Nomabutho at the recently ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair where the orthopedic centre was exhibiting.
During ZITF Leonard Cheshire Disability offered free disability assessments to Bulawayo residents and those residing in areas within the 20km radius.
Online Reporter