Mellisa Mutetwa, 9, and her sister, Gamuchirai Vanessa Gohodza, 15, were burned in a petrol fire on April 19 last year that killed their mother Lorraine Mutetwa.
“After surviving the attack, the two sisters where admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Harare Hospital. On their release from hospital they went on to live with relatives, who recently advised THH that Mellisa’s condition had deteriorated,” said Regina Dururu-Okorafo, founding director of Tariro House of Hope (THH), now based in Canada.
During the children’s stay with relatives after the attack, THH provided for their upkeep in cash and kind.
Mellisa has limited use of her hands and walks with great difficulty, while Gamuchirai’s skin grafting fell off – indicating that the children required extensive corrective surgery, which was not available in Zimbabwe.
Julia Chandapuwa Zvobgo, THH director of communications and development, searched the internet and made contacts with surgeons and organisations that could assist.
Dr Mark Steinmann, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Johannesburg, responded within hours, advising that Mellisa needed a multi-disciplinary treatment programme that included physiotherapists, occupational therapists and plastic surgeons.
Referring Zvobgo to two organisations that could help, Steinmann indicated that, had Mellisa received proper treatment from the beginning, she would have been much better by now.
Children of Fire of South Africa responded to the request, agreeing to take care of Mellisa and Gamuchirai’s situation if THH could secure medical reports, passports, visas and permission from the guardians of the girls to travel.
Justice for Children and Child Line, THH, Doctors Collin and Pedzisai and Pat Warambwa all helped in getting the required documents. The Harare Passport Office and the South Africa Embassy played a pivotal role to ensure that all necessary documents were processed in time.
A Mr Conlon volunteered to make follow-ups on the visa processing and drove Melissa and Gamuchirai to Johannesburg for the surgery. During their stay the children will attend school lessons in between medical treatments.
THH is seeking donations from well-wishers, to assist with ongoing costs. Currently the trust caters for 54 orphaned and vulnerable children, the majority of whom lost both parents.
Five are from child-headed households and need help with school fees, food, clothing, medical needs and psychological care.
The trust has a house that is used as a Child Call Centre, and provides the beneficiaries with one meal per day.
Post published in: Gender Equality