Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
IN a heart-tearing scene, a mass of live maggots wriggle in and out of a 36-year-old man’s leg wound drawing little but faint blood-stained trail lines on the surface as they feast on his flesh in a sight that could haunt even the most hardened observer.
This is the tragic reality for Mr Fanuel Moyo, who has called Inyathi Mission Hospital in Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province his home for the past eight years following a spinal cord injury sustained in a mining mishap.
Mr Moyo’s left leg harbours a deep, rotting wound from which maggots incessantly fall, causing him immense pain. Over the years, his family has stopped visiting him, leaving him without medication or food.
During a visit to the hospital by the Sunday News a sorrowful Mr Moyo sat on a hospital wheelchair, basking in the mid-morning sun.
“I am sitting out here in the sun because I feel very cold; I just took a bath,” he told the Sunday News crew on Wednesday.
Mr Moyo recounted the unfortunate incident that led to his prolonged stay at the hospital.
“I was injured in a mine accident on 19 October 2017, in the Dromoland area of Inyathi. The walls collapsed, trapping me from the waist down. Unfortunately, during the rescue operation, they used a rope tied around my chest to pull me out, leading to a broken back. I was initially taken to Inyathi Hospital, then transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo and later referred to Parirenyatwa in Harare,” he explained.
Due to a lack of funds, Mr Moyo could not continue with treatment in Harare and spent four months at Mpilo before returning home.
However, after a brief stay with his mother — who suffered a stroke and could no longer care for him — he was readmitted to Inyathi Mission Hospital.
“We only had one room shared by my mother and her three grandchildren. A doctor at the hospital recommended that I stay here, as conditions at home were not conducive and no one could assist with my care,” Mr Moyo added, highlighting the difficulties he faced.
Unfortunately, due to his incontinence, Mr Moyo suffered damage to his urethra and can no longer use tubes to assist with urination, leading to significant leakage.
The hospital provides him with linen to manage the situation, but he has also developed severe bed sores and other related issues.
“Some sores are healing, while others seem to keep appearing as I am always sitting or lying down. I need medication to assist in healing, but I have no money. The wound on my leg is deep, it is rotting and has maggots coming out of it.
The hospital cleans it and provides medication when they can,” Mr Moyo lamented.
Mr Nhlanhla Makuyana, the mine owner, lent some financial support on the day of Mr Moyo’s injury, but he has since ceased to provide assistance.
Well-wishers visit him occasionally to donate food, medication and toiletries.
Tragically, his relatives have abandoned him. His ailing mother has relocated to her relatives and his father suffers from mental illness, frequently moving and sometimes seen in Nkayi District.
In his desolation, Mr Moyo wishes for death to relieve him of his suffering.
“I have endured this for too long, with no hope in sight. The pain is unbearable. I have maggots coming out of my wound. I am in a very difficult situation, and I even wish I could die. I am receiving medical care here at the hospital, but if they were to discharge me, I don’t know where I would go,” he exclaimed, despair evident in his voice.
He expressed gratitude to the hospital staff, who have cared for him through these trying years, providing medical support and a place to stay.
Dr Brian Chikwenhere, the Government Medical Officer at Inyathi Mission Hospital, explained Mr Moyo’s condition.
“When I arrived in 2023, I found him here. He has a spinal cord injury that affects the electrical functions of the body below his waist. This leads to complications like pressure sores, which are exacerbated because he is continually sitting or lying down. We do our best to care for him by dressing and cleaning the sores,” Dr Chikwenhere said.
Another challenge is that Mr Moyo’s spinal injury requires specialised attention that he has been unable to receive.
“While the injury itself is permanent, surgeries can stabilise the back and prevent further damage, maximising bodily function. However, since Fanuel has not been able to go to Parirenyatwa for eight years, he now needs specialised intervention from a neurologist,” said the doctor.
To address Mr Moyo’s long-term recovery, Dr Chikwenhere suggested that he needs rehabilitation in a specialised facility.
“We face challenges here due to a lack of trained staff to care for patients like Fanuel. Rehabilitation often occurs in larger cities, where resources and trained personnel are more readily available,” he said.
One potential rehabilitation centre is the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) Workers Compensation Rehabilitation Centre in Bulawayo, which assists those injured at work.
However, the formal sector’s lack of coverage by Nssa leaves many, especially miners, vulnerable after such accidents.
The WCRC in Bulawayo provides various rehabilitation methods, including hydrotherapy, which utilises heated water for physical therapy and electrotherapy for stimulating nerves and muscles, essential for treating paralysis.
Mr Moyo’s story is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those injured in hazardous informal occupations, the critical need for continued medical assistance and the importance of community support to ensure their dignity and care.
Online Reporter
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