Story by Memory Chamisa
A group of Zimbabwean neurosurgeons have saved the life of an 11-year-old girl after successfully performing a brain tumor surgery in Harare.
Having been in hospital for more than 3 weeks, missing out on school and play time, Zvikomborero Mudimu’s face lit up after she was discharged this Friday.
The 11-year-old went through a grueling 13-hour brain surgery conducted by a team of neurosurgeons at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The surgery came after a marathon fundraising initiative led by ZBC Radio Zimbabwe Producer/Presenter, Rutendo Makuti.
Zvikomborero was initially supposed to go to India for the surgery, but local neurosurgeons proved their mettle and saved the family from incurring huge medical expenses.
And as they say all things work together for good hence Zvikomborero’s mother, Mrs Mudimu and Makuti are over the moon.
“I am grateful to the doctors here for saving my daughter’s life as she was born with the brain tumor, but as the years passed by the situation was getting critical and she badly needed the surgery done. Here in Zimbabwe, private hospitals wanted about US$17000, of which I did not have and was also referred to India, but still I could not raise the money. I’m grateful to Radio Zimbabwe’s Sisi Ruru who came to my rescue and had a radio marathon shift that raised the money and also the group of doctors here at Parirenyatwa who saved us from going to India as they performed the surgery. I’m happy that my daughter is now being discharged and can go back to school and live a normal life,” she said.
Radio Zimbabwe Producer/Presenter Rutendo Makuti noted “I am very proud of all the people who extended their hands in cash to assist Zvikomborero through the radio marathon I did last month. It is satisfying when such efforts bear testimonies like these. I’m also thankful to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Felix Mhona for he took over the bill and medication of Zvikomborero here at Parirenyatwa. May Zimbabweans not tire in doing well when a plea knocks on their doors.”
Zvikomborero’s successful surgery also confirms Zimbabwe’s expertise in the medical field.
“The surgery was done by many surgeons as it was complicated. We had Mr Wayne Manana who is a facial surgeon, Dr Archie Kufa an Ophthalmologist who specialises in eye and vision care as the tumor had affected her eyesight, then Dr Paidamoyo Dhliwayo-Magwenzi, a Paediatrician who was monitoring the situation. Simply, I can say we were a team that each contributed according to their expertise to ensure the surgery was a success,” said Paediatric Neurosurgeon-Craniofacial, Mr Nyararai Togarepi.
Consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Nathaniel Zimani told the ZBC News, “It is very pleasing to see Zvikomborero being discharged today, but her surgery is a process to recovery as it will take time. What is more pleasing is this was done by Zimbabweans here at the public institution. It shows the capability we have despite people thinking it can only be done overseas or at private institutions. We have a team of dedicated surgeons who can do more if more partners come on board to complement government efforts in ensuring world-class medical services.”
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals is one of the many institutions that have been carrying out complicated surgeries, saving many the burden of travelling abroad.
