11.TANATSWA: 7 YEARS
Tanatswa is a 7 year old Zimbabwe girl who lives in Gweru with her mother. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy a few months after birth. She struggles to balance such that she cannot sit or stand without assistance. In March 2019 a well wisher approached Hope for Zimbabwe Children for assistance after he met Tanatswa and her mother struggling in Gweru. Tanatswa’s mother, 40 year old Dzidzayi Mazivachipi is her daughter’s carer, and therefore cannot work as she has to care for her daughter’s needs day in day out. Tanatswa’s father, Ephison Zimbwa is a 52 year old who earns up to zw$150 which is equivalent to about us$30 a month. This money is supposed to pay for rent, bills, medication, transport, clothes, food and upkeep for the 4 family members. Ephison does not live with the family but works in a rural area called Musvosvi as a piece job garden boy so it is the mother who usually provides care for their physically challenged daughter. The family lives in a crowded house and is seeking long term help for Tanatswa. Tanatswa has a 12 year old brother, Tanaka and the parents cannot afford to look after Tanaka who is in grade 7. They are struggling with paying his school fees and meeting his basic needs so Tanaka lives with his mother’s sister in Murambinda, Machingura village, Zimbabwe.
The mother said she is HIV positive as well as her husband and both cannot afford to buy their own medication. The mother gave consent for Hope for Zimbabwe Children and well wishers to know their health status and health needs. Speaking to Hope for Zimbabwe Children the mother said she is anxious, depressed and fearful of what will happen to Tanatswa in case she dies before Tanatswa. She said her legs are very painful after she reacted badly to TB medication and she struggles to walk for even 50 meters. She added that she is always with her daughter as she has no one to leave the daughter with so she cannot work as she has to care for her daughter all the time. The mother has to carry Tanatswa on her back if they are to go out. This is very tough for the mother who also experiences shortness of breadth due to her poor health and therefore cannot carry Tanatswa for long periods of time or long distances. More so the daughter has no wheel chair ,cannot stretch her legs , and she has to crawl day in day out on the floor and ground outside .Due to the unending crawling Tanatswa’s legs are bruised and she is in constant pain. She cannot play for long with other children outside as she has to crawl on dusty hard ground which is painful and not good for her health. The desperate mother asked for money to buy a wheel chair for Tanatswa or any other equipment to aid her mobility, money to pay for physiotherapy sessions and for transport from Gweru to Murambinda hospital to attend the sessions. She is also looking for spacious accommodation that will meet Tanatswa’s needs and for help to start a self help project thus empowering her to fend for herself and her children. She is also seeking assistance with medication, food, clothes, bedding, school fees, uniforms, books and stationery. Hope for Zimbabwe Children is hoping that all this support will enable Tanatswa to lead a better life and will also help to relieve her mother of some emotional and physical stress she is experiencing.
Hope for Zimbabwe Children assisted the family with running a charity appeal that saw well wishers, a footballer and Good Samaritan coming through to support the family as well. Together with the financial support from Hope for Zimbabwe Children we paid for physiotherapy sessions for Tanatswa and footed transport costs for the journeys to attend the sessions. Tanatswa’s legs were put in plasters and one well wisher also bought Tanatswa a toy laptop, clothing for Christmas and another well wisher bought Tanatswa a wheelchair. Due to the poverty, Hope for Zimbabwe Children also continuously give Tanatswa’s mother money for day to day groceries and other needs, and continues to support her emotionally. The family relies on help from the public as Zimbabwe’s health and social welfare system is failing to cater for the needs of children and no help was in sight for the hopeless and helpless mother and her daughter until she was referred to Hope for Zimbabwe Children for assistance.
Health Issues: Both parents are HIV positive and struggle to access medication. Dzidzayi also suffers from painful legs due to a negative reaction to TB medication, complicating her ability to care for Tanatswa.
Living Conditions: The family resides in a cramped house that lacks space for Tanatswa’s needs. The poor living environment exacerbates both Tanatswa’s condition and her mother’s health issues.
Separation from Sibling: Tanaka, the 12-year-old brother, lives with relatives due to the family’s inability to provide for his education and basic needs.
Immediate Needs: Tanatswa’s family requires urgent assistance to improve their quality of life and relieve some of the burdens they face. Purchase of a wheelchair for Tanatswa to improve her mobility. Physiotherapy sessions to help manage her condition tailored to her needs. A constant supply of medication for both parents to manage their HIV health needs. Healthcare support system to address Dzidzayi’s health issues and overall family health needs. Ongoing provision for groceries and daily needs to ensure the family does not go hungry. Clothes, bedding, school fees, uniforms, books, and stationery for Tanaka. Assistance in finding spacious and suitable housing with facilities that caters to Tanatswa’s physical condition and funding for a self-help project to allow Dzidzayi to generate income for the family, providing a sustainable way to alleviate poverty.
Hope for Zimbabwe Children has been instrumental in addressing the family’s needs through running a charity appeal that garnered support from community members and well-wishers, including a footballer. Providing physiotherapy and transport costs for Tanatswa to attend physiotherapy sessions and providing a wheelchair, clothing and financial assistance to help with daily groceries and emotional support for the mother, Dzidzayi.
Goals for the Future: Through continuous support and the kindness of the community, Hope for Zimbabwe Children aims to enable Tanatswa to have a more fulfilling and independent life despite her condition. Relieve Dzidzayi of the emotional and physical stress she experiences daily. Ultimately aim for a sustainable solution that empowers the family to care for themselves, reducing their reliance on external aid.
Call to Action: The challenges faced by Tanatswa and her family reflect a broader issue within the community. Ongoing support is needed to ensure long-term care and stability for this family and many others facing similar situations. Contributions towards mobility aids, healthcare needs, and educational support can help create a brighter future for Tanatswa and her family.