Parents of triplets appeal for help

Muchaneta Chimuka
Herald Correspondent
A Hopley couple is appealing for help to look after three-months-old triplets as they are unemployed and already has three other children at school, relying on handouts from well-wishers and menial jobs.

The triplets are boys — Jimmy, Jayden and Jerry — who have no birth records as Mr Jerry Kwereka (41) and wife Olivia Pandiwa (30) cannot afford the equivalent of US$15 for the hospital bill.

The mother said she was detained at Edith Opperman maternity unit in Mbare after failing to settle the hospital bill.

“Our kids remain undocumented because when I gave birth at Edith Opperman in Mbare, but I failed to pay a hospital bill of US$15 and that prompted the hospital staff to detain me for four solid days and I was later released without the birth records for my kids. They said they will only give me upon paying their money. We are struggling to get food for the family and infant formula since the milk that I’m producing is not enough for the three,” said Pandiwa.

She delivered her kids normally, but was surprised to find she was carrying triplets.

“From the time I conceived, I was expecting only a single child and these triplets came as a surprise. I had not gone for scan because I did not have money. When I went to the hospital, I had only prepared for one child only to be told by nurses that I had delivered three boys who weighed 2,2kg each. The children are growing well and gaining weight and they do not have any health complications but the major challenge is food, shelter and jobs,” she said.

Pandiwa said her husband was no longer working.

“Currently we are staying at my sister’s house in Hopley with our six children. If we could be assisted with shelter and any kind of job we can fend for our own children since we are all able-bodied,” she added.

Kwereka echoed similar sentiments saying he was not used to begging but the dilemma that was before them was pushing them.

“I can do any job if hired. We cannot hire or employ a maid to assist in looking after our kids since we do not have a place to call home and the financial means, so I have to assist my wife. Our social life has been cut off but we are happy for the blessing that God gave us which we at times see as a problem due to incapacitation,” he said.

Those who wish to assist can use their EcoCash numbers Mr Jerry Kwereka 0787423976 or Olivia Pandiwa 0771615610.