Family Receives Wheelchairs

Masvingo- A Masvingo family has received two wheelchairs for two of its three disabled family members. The donation was made possible by Family Aids Caring Trust (FACT)Masvingo under the National Action Plan for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children programme of support funded by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund.

The programme is implemented by a consortium of five organizations in Masvingo province with Fact Masvingo implementing in Masvingo urban.

The recipients of the two wheelchairs acquired at the value of US$350 each are physically challenged members of the Nezandonyi family. Mr Gibson Nezandonyi said Grace (17) and Canajas (11) have the same physical challenges. Grace however cannot speak in addition to her physical challenges. Mercy (4) is also physically challenged but the Rehabilitation Department at the Masvingo General Hospital says she has a potential to be able to walk. The department therefore recommended a walker for her instead of a wheel chair. Fact Masvingo coordinator Mrs Saliwe Chibwana says the walker has already been ordered and will soon be handed over. She thanked local support groups who identified the children and their need for wheelchairs.

Mr Nezandonyi, an army officer, said his daughter Grace and his son Canajas have never been to school because he could not carry them to and fro. He expressed hope that he could soon take his children to nearby Ratidzo School. Ratidzo School was originally meant for mentally challenged children, a few of them with other physical challenges but able to walk by themselves. Ratidzo School Headmaster, Ishmael Chigumo who attended the handover, said his class of four physically challenged children which started this year will now have seven children. He took the opportunity to appeal to the donor community for a school bus in order to help these children to go to school everyday. “Most of the time those that help the children to school will skip a few days when they are tired and the children miss out” said Mr Chigumo

Ms Faith Muregi an Occupational Therapist and Acting Provincial Therapist at the Masvingo Provincial Hospital took time to show the family how to use the wheelchairs. She went on to urge the guardians not to neglect the children now that they have wheelchairs.

Ward 6 Councillor David Vasivenyu thanked Fact Masvingo and appealed for more assistance in helping the physically challenged in Masvingo.