Mr. Price rescues girl with fistula

Mr. Price rescues girl with fistula

Relieved Hara outside Mwaiwathu Hospital

by Watipaso Mzungu Jnr  

The 11 year-old girl who has been struggling with fistula for over seven years in Lilongwe will now undergo a surgical operation at Mwaiwathu Hospital in Blantyre with financial assistance from business operator, Mr. Price.

Mr. Price Chief Executive Officer Debbie Eve confirmed on Friday that his company was ready to pay about K200, 000 towards the cost of the operation on the girl.

Eve said although the company does not normally assist individuals, they were compelled to do so in order to raise awareness and motivate other people to assist the many girls that are going through such conditions.

“Our management agreed to help the girl in hope that any publicity generated will create awareness of this condition [fistula] and also to motivate other parties to assist in providing help for these victims at an affordable cost,” said Eve.

“There are a lot of girls in this condition, but can’t get help [at government hospitals] unless at private hospitals, which are usually expensive to many,” she said.

Mwaiwathu Hospital gynaecologist Dr. Edgar Kuchingale who will carry the operation confirmed meeting the girl and has assured the sponsors that the operation will be successful.

“The situation is not serious. It’s repairable and I believe it will be a success,” he said.

According to Kuchingale the operation will take only two days. The doctor also assured the girl will not have problems in toilet, but will not be able to give birth using the birth canal.

“There is damage on the vaginal and rectum canals and after the operation the girl will be able to give birth, but not through birth canal. She’ll only bear through caesarean operation,” he said.

The girl was allegedly raped in 2003 by unknown man and left her with fistula. For the past seven years, the girl has been forced to pass out both urine and faecal matter using the same passage.

Mother of the child, Ruth Hara thanked management of the company for their benevolence and asked other people to emulate the good example Mr. Price has set.

"I’m short of words. I’m very grateful to Mr. Price for their love and support they’ve provided to my child,” said Hara, a widow responsible for the welfare of five children.
To earn a living, Hara works as a security guard for Pasimalo Security Services in Lilongwe.

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