Zimpapers Logo

Herald Reporter

HEALTH workers in South Africa are fundraising for a Zimbabwean boy that was mauled by a hyena last month while sleeping at an all-night church gathering in Harare.

The health experts have pledged to render their specialised services for free and to raise funds for the boy to be airlifted to South Africa for treatment.

Rodwell Nkomazana (9), lost one eye, while his nose was destroyed.

He also lost an entire lip. 

A nursing sister in South Africa, Maqshuda Kajee and other health care workers, have since started raising funds for the boy to travel to South Africa for reconstruction surgery.

Kajee told the South African media that a specialist medical team has pledged to do the surgery for free, with the only challenge being his transport costs.

Indications are that the surgery will be done at Sandton Mediclinic by a team led by renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Ridwan Mia.

The tentative date for his arrival in South Africa is June 19 while June 21 has been provisionally set for the surgery.

The Zimbabwe medical team has been hailed for stabilising and caring for him.

His mother, Shamiso Mabika, is set to travel to Johannesburg with him.

Kajee has pledged to pay the mother’s transport costs.

Treatment costs are estimated to be over R1 million, but by Sunday evening, about R3 452 of the targeted R1 million had been raised.

It is understood that Sister Chaku Nyamupaguma, who is providing wound care to Rodwell here, and sister Liz Willson-Chandler in Pretoria, shared the story with Kajee, who in turn shared it with Dr Sayuren Moonsamy, MealSA, The Dandelion Philosophy and other concerned healthcare workers and individuals who have been key in campaigning for the boy’s cause and raising funds for his treatment. — Additional reporting by The Sowetan.