The Zimbabwe Council for the Blind (ZCfB) has offered to assist seven-year-old Sisasenkosi Gumede from Mapenkani village in Nkayi who developed eyesight problems that have kept her out of school.
Sisasenkosi’s condition came to light after her guardian, Moddie Ngwenya made a public appeal for financial assistance to take care of her orphaned twin granddaughters, Sisasenkosi and Musawenkosi.
Sisasenkosi lost her sight and needs to go for surgery while her twin Musawenkosi is now in ECD and her grandmother is struggling to pay her school fees.
Due to her condition and the unavailability of a suitable school in the area, Sisasenkosi has been forced to stay at home.
After learning of Sisasenkosi’s plight through an article published by CITE, ZCfB offered to assist her and arranged that she travels to Bulawayo for treatment.
However, they discovered that she had other underlying conditions which needed medical attention and they have since referred her to Mpilo Hospital for treatment.
Speaking with CITE, ZCfB Programmes Manager, Busisiwe Mzyece said Sisasenkosi has to first go for check-ups before they can assist her.
“The issue is, her body looks swollen, the head, the face and the stomach are all big. When we look at her weight and height there is a contradiction with her age, so all that needs to be checked first by other doctors before she comes for an eye check up because we don’t know what is really causing the swelling,” said Mzyece.
She said this was the reason they had to transfer her to Mpilo Hospital.
“When they are done treating her that side and they feel like she is now ready for analysis then we can still accept her, if its eyes we take over,” said Mzyece.
Meanwhile, Ngwenya said Sisasenkosi is now waiting to undergo a scan.
“We went to Mpilo Hospital and the doctor said she has to undergo a scan on the 30th of September,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya is currently in Bulawayo and those willing to assist can get in touch with her on 0777 427 404.
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