Bulawayo autistic children lose out on crucial therapy
1 June 2012
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Bulawayo(ZimEye)-At least 100 children with severe disability of cerebral palsy and autism housed at Monica Brewer Day Centre in Bulawayo are losing out on their routine physiotherapy checkups as their parents are failing to raise an imposed weekly medical fee of US$100.
Cerebral palsy and autism are caused by brain damage while the baby is still in the mother’s womb and the conditions cannot be cured.
Professional Physiotherapists in Bulawayo however charge $100 per session and it is a requirement for the affected children to visit physiotherapists twice a week.

Bulawayo autistic and palsy children lose out on crucial therapy

“This is one of the major challenges we are facing here at this centre because parents cannot raise US$200 per week per child for physiotherapy. As mitigation we are receiving basic physiotherapy training so that we can at least attend to our children here”, Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association’s Programmes Officer Mrs Tendai Masumba told ZimEye in Bulawayo.
Mrs Masumba is also a parent of one of the disabled children being taken care of at Monica Brewer Day Centre.
The centre was established by mothers with children with severe disabilities after realising that they could not do anything profitable for a living if they concentrate with their children who need close attention every time.

At the centre parents take turns to look after their children with almost the same conditions so that they could do something for a living.
“As you can see these children cannot do anything on their own. We need tones of pampers, cotton wool and toilet tissues so that when they mess up they are quickly cleaned, and this is the other challenge we are facing,”Martha Sibanda mother to Luke Junior Sigauke (12) said.
Mrs Sibanda and her son are both HIV positive.
“My son needs walking frames as he can only move using his knees and hands. Because of his HIV positive condition he is on and off sick making his hospital bill always high and this is the challenge I am faced with” Mrs Sibanda said.
Babara Ncube an information officer for the institution taking care of these children with severe disabilities said they are lobbying government to include in the education curriculum children they are taking care of.
“We have held several meetings with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders who have agreed and appreciated our call for the inclusion of these children in the mainstream education sector rather than leaving them to us or at their homes. What we are now waiting for is to hearing when this is going to be implemented because there are thousands unidentified children at homes,” she said.
UNICEF is also assisting the centre with material, financial and technical support all in an effort to alleviate the lives of the innocent vulnerable children living with this life condition. (ZIMBABWE, ZimEye)

15 Replies to “Bulawayo autistic children lose out on crucial therapy”

  1. people need to be mature when dealing with such, am dissappointed. Grown up people speaking with ingorance. Do you know what these mothers and fathers are going through even those children. Noone wishes this on anyone. Am moved by this. This is not only abt the govt but also us as a society to stand up and assist. Right now they are threatening to close down these shelters and are we going to just sit and watch!!!!!!!!!!

  2. A respönsible government provide basic services e.g health ,education,water to it citizens at affordable rates useless leaders dont

  3. if you have direct contact with this center below are some helpful organizations that might be able to help too..
    Autism Speaks
    Autism International
    Autism Network International

  4. I’m a daily zimbabwean zim eye reader here in the US and this is my very 1st comment ever because this subject hits home. First i want to thank you for touching on this subject bringing awareness. My 4yr old daughter was recently diagnosed with Autism and i have to say I’m grateful we are in America; she can receive free services. Reading this article humbles me in so many ways; these kids need help and for those making comments or reading this if you are not able to help at least pray it is the greatest gifts of all. Nothing is impossible it saddens me to see children neglected these kids are citizens of the kingdom. I know especially in places like Zimababwe where there are many struggles these kids might be overlooked many think its witchcraft many think these are demons it might be so but No demon or evil is greater than GOD. We never know how much healthy and well developed kids are a blessing till we see or experience such. A child is a miracle regardless. These children are able and smart no matter what.
    Editor please provide a contact, i would like to reach out to this center and help in anyway i can. Thank you

  5. For real its unacceptable Mtunhuwashata. Better take money from aids and give it to these kids

  6. its so sad 2 see these poor pples continue 2 suffer in the eyes of gvmnt. Its unacceptable.

  7. seka urema wafa this i will not laugh at unlike the naked one if you curse anyone may this contagion be inflicted upon your generation may god bless the souls of this young ones weather shona or ndebele or changani we all want to lead normal lives poor kidz god bless

  8. Where is Cedricat, where are you Naked, the richest men in the country why can’t you assist your women you impregnated together with their disabled children or do you want to blame it on gukurahundi?

  9. But my dear editor most of thiz pple are aliens who have invaded MTHWAKAZILAND all the way from Zimbabwe with their witchcraft practices, they are straining our resources we can not have a situation whereby the whole maShona jairos jiris are invading our land everyday,they should b deported to their places. Bulawayo the capital city of MTHWAKAZILAND is know as City Of Kings we don’t want to b known as City Of Zombies bcoz of thiz aliens plz Shiri

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