The Sunday Mail
THREE cancer patients adopted by Musha Mukadzi Zimbabwe Armed Forces Foundation (MZAFF) have died since the closure of Trauma Centre Hospital in Harare which was partnering Mrs Marry Chiwenga in their treatment.
The lives of 13 others are in danger as they are failing to access the critical medical attention after the MZAFF programme was disrupted by the closure of Trauma Centre.
MZAFF was paying for treatment of 16 cancer patients but they were left stranded after the change of ownership of the facility following a protracted wrangle between Trauma Centre founder Dr Vivek Solanki and foreign investors, African Medical Investments (Plc).
Dr Solanki was evicted on September 23.
The latest victim is Shingirai Bushu, who was buried at Harare’s Granville Cemetery last week.
MZAFF had paid US$15 000 for a key operation which saw Shingirai’s leg being amputated just before the dramatic closure of Trauma Centre.
An emotional and teary Mrs Chiwenga, who heads MZAFF, told mourners that her organisation has lost three children to cancer.
Ashley Mhanje (10) and Wishes Chimuzungu (12) have also lost their lives.
“Some of our victims were attended to by Dr Solanki and he has always been helpful. Sometime in August this year we came together with Dr Solanki to raise awareness about cancer because a lot of people are ignorant about the disease. The awareness campaign was part of our major highlights at this year’s Harare Agricultural Show,” said Mrs Chiwenga.
Dr Solanki added: “It is devastating as with the correct treatment of chemotherapy, he would be alive; but the facility that was providing such care at no cost was closed down with disregard and dire consequences for the people that were being looked after.
“This public-private initiative has been broken. Then our detractors tell the world that we have no working joint initiatives and our health delivery is poor; yet they are the same people that are causing the demise of these sectors.”
