Chronicle Editor
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
Over the past two years, Simon Jeche has been unable to enjoy the outdoors due to the amputation of his leg following a battle with cancer, a circumstance that has profoundly altered both his life and his family’s.
Once able to stroll to the gate of his Nkulumane suburb residence in Bulawayo effortlessly, he now finds himself unable to do so since the loss of his right leg.
Subsequently, should Jeche wish to traverse his yard, he is compelled to manoeuvre his body using his hands and remaining left knee.
The sudden loss of a limb can be life-altering and without the financial means to acquire a wheelchair, one faces significant challenges.
At 72, Jeche, a security guard by profession, was the primary provider for his household.
His modest earnings ensured the smooth running of his home and the education of his 16-year-old son.
The amputation has had a ripple effect, impacting not just Jeche but also necessitating his family to adapt to a new way of life, despite his advanced years.
His wife, Kuhle Jeche, aged 60, has also assumed the role of caregiver during this transformative period in their lives.
A neighbour, opting to remain anonymous, reached out to the non-profit organisation Young Women in Africa, prompting their intervention.
Although primarily focused on women’s empowerment, the organisation deemed it appropriate to assist Jeche upon learning of his urgent need for a wheelchair.
For many in need, purchasing a wheelchair is an unattainable goal, with even the most affordable models online priced at around US$70.
Thus, the timely aid provided by Young Women in Africa, who procured a wheelchair through one of their South African members, proved to be a lifeline for the Jeche family, granting their patriarch a degree of mobility.
Recently, speaking from his Nkulumane residence, Jeche vividly recounted the struggles he faced in seeking a breath of fresh air within his own yard due to his amputation.
“I have been having a torrid time since 2021, I couldn’t leave the house let alone get to the gate. I would drag myself with my hands, while I was on my knees for me to get out of the house. My wife or daughter would help me so that I could sit outside. I tried using crutches, but I couldn’t as I would fall or be unbalanced all the time.”
He recounted that his ordeal began with a minor sore on his right foot in 2020, which progressively became swollen, culminating in his leg turning black, particularly beneath his foot.
“If one touched it, my foot felt like a wet blanket. I thought it would die away or heal but I got worse, until I went to the doctor to get treatment. I don’t know where the sore came from, but one day I felt it.
“At the time from my foot up to my knee, the leg was now black in colour. Even if someone hit me with a stone on my foot, I wouldn’t feel any pain. I went to a doctor in the city centre and was told that my leg was in a bad state before I was referred to Central Hospital (United Bulawayo Hospitals).
I was immediately admitted and then was told that my leg had to be amputated close to my hip,” said Jeche.
He said he spent six weeks in hospital after the amputation.
“Since 2021 that time, I haven’t left the yard. Neighbours just heard that I was amputated and haven’t seen me since unless they visit. I used to work as a security guard and I had to leave work because my leg started turning black and I was feeling pain from June 2021 and I was amputated in January 2022. It has been hard for me to go for reviews because I don’t have transport, my children help here and there, but it has been hard also for them to adjust,” said Jeche.
His 31-year-old daughter, who occasionally assists her father, expressed her gratitude for the provision of a wheelchair, which will significantly enhance his mobility.
“Watching my father sitting at home for the past two years has been a very painful experience. He tried using crutches but he couldn’t. We couldn’t afford a wheelchair and we were now looking towards God to provide for us.
“I would like to thank God for the love He has shown through Young Business which is a woman-centred organisation but it decided to help my father. This is only an act from God and His love. The wheelchair will help not only my father but the whole family to change our lives after his amputation some two years ago,” said Masiyambiri.
In a further act of support, Young Women in Africa also provided a wheelchair to Sarah Musikambesa (53), who was born without legs. Her daily routine involves travelling from the Cowdray Park suburb to the city centre to sell her goods, earning money to support her grandson’s education.
The organisation paid her a visit at her usual spot at the corner of 5th Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street in Bulawayo. Her previous wheelchair held together with wires and string, was replaced with a new one, eliciting joy not only from Musikambesa but also from the onlookers who witnessed the heart-warming scene.
“Every day I had to endure the ridicule from people and even kombi drivers as she claims they have grown tired of finding space for my battered wheelchair. I cried. I want to thank you for helping me so much. I didn’t know where I would get a new one,” said Musikambesa.
“It’s a struggle for me to get into the kombi and come to the city centre. Just the other day a kombi conductor was saying that my wheelchair was too old and taking up space in the kombi. This is what I endure every day when I come to sell my popcorn, crisps, sweets, nuts and other stuff here.”
Annie Malinga, the Secretary for Disability Affairs at Young Women in Africa, expressed the organisation’s commitment to societal transformation, emphasising the pivotal role women play in this endeavour.
“It’s not about us being looking for women to help only, like we did Musikambesa. Even Mr Jeche also needed help and we saw it fit to lend a helping hand in a small way. We as Young Women in Africa want to help in society as a whole although our main aim is women,” said Malinga.
One of the principal aims of Young Women in Africa is to forge a brighter future for young women and girls across the continent. This is achieved by championing the restoration of dignity and integrity among Africans, fostering a sense of patriotism and promoting regional unity and collaboration among member nations.
Online Reporter