Bongiwe Ndlovu was bathing her two-year-old son when she felt a lump on his stomach. Motherly instinct kicked in. She rushed her son to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in South Africa, where she was based, to get the lump checked.
She got the shock of her life when she was informed that her son might have a kidney problem or even worse he might have cancer.
In September 2022, Bongiwe and her son, Lindokuhle, spent two weeks at the hospital as the doctors tried to ascertain the cause of the latter’s condition.
In order to continue with the medical procedure to ascertain her child’s condition, Bongiwe claims the hospital demanded she pays about R125 000.
Due to a lack of funds and her son’s condition getting worse, Bongiwe has decided to return to Zimbabwe to try and seek help in local hospitals.
In an interview with CITE, soon after arriving from South Africa, Thursday, Bongiwe appealed for financial assistance to cover medical bills for his son’s treatment.
“I have a problem with my child, his stomach started growing big when he was two years old. His stomach is hard on one side, on the other side it’s normal,” said Ndlovu.
“At first, I went to Coronation hospital (Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital) around September 2022 and we were there for two weeks. After we were discharged, we went to Johannesburg hospital around November where we spent a week.
“The hospital fee was too much for me, they wanted R2 000 per day for hospitalisation. I saw that the bill was going to be too much so I got discharged. I ended up frequenting local clinics but there was not much help from there.”
Lindokuhle is currently admitted to Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo after being transferred from Tsholotsho district hospital.
Those willing to assist can contact CITE on 0787 139 460.
