Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
A 13-YEAR-OLD from Muzarabani is walking again after successfully undergoing surgery after struggling with a femur fracture for some time.
Severe financial difficulties were contributing to the delays in him receiving definitive surgical treatment.
Tapiwa Karonga underwent surgery over the weekend with Southlea Hospital managing director and chief surgeon, Eliot F. Chikati, leading the procedure during the hospital’s free health expo.
Tapiwa, from the Chimoyo area of Muzarabani, suffered a femur fracture after he was injured by a chikochikati.
His mother, Ndaizivei Karonga, a single mother, said the family had struggled to raise money for the operation before Tapiwa was eventually referred to Southlea Hospital. The hospital took up the case and performed surgery on the boy at no cost, giving him a chance to return to normal life.
For Ndaizivei, the operation came as a huge relief.
“I am short of words because I had no one to help me with the bills.
“I am very grateful to Southlea Hospital for taking care of my son and giving him the operation for free.
“As a mother, it was painful to see my child suffering and unable to walk properly, knowing that I could not afford the treatment he needed.
“I had been worried about what would happen to him and how we would raise the money for the operation.
“Now that he has been treated and is able to walk again, I feel relieved and very happy.
“This has given me hope because I never thought we would get this kind of help.
“I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who contributed to his treatment. They have changed my son’s life.”
Tapiwa was initially admitted at another hospital in Muzarabani before being referred to Southlea Hospital.
He was among several patients who received free treatment during the hospital’s health expo, which included surgical services.
The managing director and chief surgeon Chikati said the programme was born out of the need to make healthcare accessible to ordinary people.
“When we opened this hospital about six years ago in Harare South, our vision was clear and simple. “We wanted to enhance access to affordable healthcare services for the generality of our community.
“However, we soon realised that even with subsidised fees, healthcare was still beyond the reach of the majority.
“We then came up with a solution where we opened our doors to provide free services, including doctors’ consultations, pharmacy, dental care, vision screening, laboratory services, X-rays, counselling and physiotherapy.
“We also offer family planning, victim-friendly services and even surgeries.
“Healing must include joy, which is why we also had a jumping castle for children.”
Chikati said the hospital had been attending to a number of patients with conditions that had gone untreated for long periods.
“During the course of the week, we have been operating on various cases, including neglected fractures and joint-related conditions,” he said.
He said Tapiwa’s case highlighted the difficulties faced by people who delay treatment because of financial challenges.
“A case in point is a 13-year-old boy, Tapiwa Karonga, from Muzarabani, who had been living with a neglected femur, or thigh, fracture for more than six weeks after he was injured by a chikochikari.
“We facilitated his treatment and operated on him, and he is now able to walk again with a normal limb.” Chikati said the free health programme was not a new initiative at the hospital.
“We are not doing this programme for the first time. We have been doing it for the past five years,” he said.
“Last year, we managed to attend to about 778 patients and this year we have increased our capacity.”
The programme provided treatment to people with different health needs, including people living with albinism. Chikati said the initiative was also part of efforts to encourage local solutions to challenges facing communities.
“We are doing this in the spirit that a nation is built by its own people.
“It is the domestic productive capacity and local solutions that can save our people and give us our sense of existence as we move forward,” he said.
Southlea Hospital matron, Evelyn Mapfumo, said a team of health workers and volunteers had been brought together to ensure that patients received a wide range of services under one roof.
“We are offering theatre services, specialist services and maternity consultations with doctors, as well as pharmacy services, where we are giving patients treatment to take home.
“We also have a group of volunteers who have come on board, including specialists in orthopaedics.
“We have general practitioners, dentists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, nurses and nurse aides so that we can offer free services to the community in need,” she said.
The day-long health expo ran from 7am to 4:30pm. Services included medical consultations, pharmacy services, dental care, counselling, vision screening and wellness advice.
Patients also received assistance with family planning, physiotherapy, nutritional guidance and medical aid-related support.
The programme was supported by various partners, including Eduvest, FBC, Nyaradzo Group, New Avakash International, Greenwood Group, just mention a few.
Hospital administrator, Tinashe Manyangadze, said the expo had become a yearly tradition as the hospital sought to help people who struggle to access healthcare because of financial difficulties.
“We are driven by the spirit of giving back to the community,” he said.
“We could not have done this without other service providers who partnered with us in making this health expo a success.
“This year we extended our services to patients with fractures and those in need of surgical treatment.”
One of the beneficiaries, 50-year-old Peter Mashonganyika, said the free services had brought him relief after living with pain for a long time.
“I had been struggling with pain for a long time but could not afford treatment. Today I got help for free, and I am so relieved,” he said.
“This expo is truly a blessing.”
