Background
Gutuza village is a hard-to-reach area in Zaka district under Chief Nhema. The village is characterized by poor roads which are almost impossible to access during the rainy periods. The cellular network is also erratic making it difficult for community members to have constant access to communication services with the rest of the world meaning information is not easily accessible.
The community follows strong cultural practices and believes in superstitions and myths and misconceptions around disability are still rampant. This is worsened by the fact that villagers still believe in witchcraft and are always witch-hunting to find the causes of their misfortunes.
Cynthia Gutuza is from Gutuza village and was born on the 13th of February 2013 at Musiso Hospital in Zaka district. She was born with “phocomelia” an absence of upper limbs. Her condition distressed her parents, especially her mother Mazviona Dundu. She feared what people would say about her child and whether they would accept her child. She was afraid that her child would never be able to live a normal life.
Her fears were confirmed when people used to stare at her child every time she travelled with her, some asked outright what had happened to her. At first, there was a lot of talk about Cynthia, with most people saying it was an act of witchcraft, while others said the mother had an adulterous affair that’s why the baby had been born that way.
Intervention
Immediately after the baby was born, the mother received counselling from the doctor on duty, who explained to her that her child’s condition was not the end of the world. She was encouraged to embrace her child and support her so that she could have a fruitful and fulfilling life like any other child. She was referred to the rehabilitation department at Musiso Hospital where she received some more counselling and was given a proper diagnosis for her child’s condition. In Cynthia’s case, the upper limbs were missing. The therapist advised the mother to let her daughter use her lower limbs which were normal except for a shorter left leg.
Mazviona Dundu attended the 3 day CP Workshops at Ndanga Hospital when the project started rolling out where her daughter received physiotherapy and was encouraged to do things using her feet which included writing and eating. The Kufambatose team referred her to the local school where she attended from Early childhood learning to grade one. While in school Cynthia continued to attend the rehabilitation workshops and was constantly monitored. Mazviona would carry Cynthia on her back to school and wait for her to finish and then carry her back to school. By the end of grade 1, it was becoming difficult for the mother to carry her to school as she was getting bigger and the school was far from their homestead.
The Kufambatose Foundation sourced funds for an artificial limb for Cynthia from Bulawayo Orthopedic Center as she was having difficulty walking because one leg was shorter than the other. Cynthia was referred to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Schools Psychological Center where she was assessed and placed at King George IV School in Bulawayo.
Impact
Cynthia Gutuza is now enrolled in school and getting an education, the school has boarding facilities so she does not have to travel long distances to get to the school.
Cynthia’s mother has been supported with a poultry project so that she can take care of her daughter’s basic needs and be able to pay part of her school fees.
The Gutuza family and village members have changed their attitude towards Cynthia and embraced her like any other child. The father of Cynthia has been very supportive and determined to provide a better life for her daughter. Community members in Gutuza village have changed their attitudes toward people with disabilities.
The project continues to offer a holistic approach to beneficiaries of the project. The main goal is to ensure that children with disabilities have a better quality of life and have access to services like all the other children.
