Vusumuzi Dube
Raymond Jaravaza, Online Reporter
A RETIRED teacher Mrs Mvelaphi Nyoni (78) of Njube suburb has been a diabetic patient for the last 20 years and manages her condition by injecting herself with insulin four times a day but has been finding it hard to buy other medication to ease the pain on her hands and feet, especially at night.
Last Wednesday, Mrs Nyoni was part of scores of elderly residents who accessed free medical health services and medication courtesy of the Brian Samuriwo Foundation’s health expo at the Njube Shopping Centre.
The senior residents were drawn from Njube, Lobengula, Pelandaba, Iminyela, Mabuthweni, Mpopoma, Entumbane and Emakhandeni.
Mrs Nyoni, like the rest of the residents, were first attended to by a nurse who checked their Hypertension (high blood pressure) before being checked by a team of doctors who then recommended the type medication for them to a pharmacist who was also on site.
“I don’t sleep well at night because of sharp pains on my hands and feet so I came here to see the doctor and explain my condition to him. The doctor said it’s common for diabetic patients, especially older ones like me, to experience symptoms such as pain in the legs, arms and feet.
“I was given medication to ease the pain while I continue taking my insulin through daily injections. The doctor, however, ruled out the possibility that I might be suffering from arthritis, which is common among diabetic patients,” said Mrs Nyoni.
Mr Joshua Sibanda from Iminyela said he suffers from hypertension and was given free medication.
“It’s good to know that there are still people out there such as Cde Samuriwo who care about the elderly. The medication was free for everyone and we were not asked about our political affiliation but were treated the same as senior citizens of Bulawayo,” said Sibanda.
Residents of the eight western suburbs responded to the call by the Brian Samuriwo Foundation for free medical services and medication judging by the large number of senior citizens who heeded the call for free medical assistance.
Elderly residents suffering from ailments such as Hypertension (BP), diabetes and arthritis made up the majority of people who were assisted at the health expo.
The Brian Samuriwo Foundation through its health expo initiative is making a significant impact in the community, providing essential medical services to the elderly.
The initiative aims to bridge the healthcare gap for the elderly in Bulawayo who often struggle to access medical care due to financial constraints.
The foundation’s team of doctors and pharmacists sets up temporary medical centers in Bulawayo neighborhoods on a rotational basis, ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare.
Cde Samuriwo, who is also the chairman of the Bulawayo Zanu PF business committee said he was approached by the local party leadership headed by provincial chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda to extend his philathrophic word by assisting the elderly in the city.
“We are using part of the profits to support the elderly as a way of giving back to the community which supports our business. Most of the people who patronise our business are the children and grandchildren of elderly residents that we are assisting,
“The health expo will cover all corners of Bulawayo Province until we are satisfied that the elderly in the city have accessed free medical services and received the right medication for the ailments that they are suffering from,” said Cde Samuriwo.
Cde Sibanda hailed the initiative for spreading goodwill to the citizens of Bulawayo regardless of their political affiliation.
Online Reporter