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Nontsikelelo Moyo

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
AN EPILEPTIC Grade Four pupil at Chefunye Primary School in Tsholotsho who had her leg amputated after falling into a fire and is now using a wooden leg is appealing for help to replace it with an artificial one.

Nontsikelelo Moyo (10) uses a wooden leg which makes it very difficult for her to move.

The girl lives with her unemployed mother and young sister who is also epileptic.

Nontsikelelo’s plight has moved teachers at Chefunye Primary School who have since formed a Nontsikelelo Moyo Disability Committee to raise funds for her.

The committee wants to raise funds to buy an artificial leg for her.

Chefunye Primary School headmaster Mr Austin Ndlovu told The Chronicle that they do not have a fixed amount of money that they want to raise but their aim was to mobilise resources to help the child.

He said the committee saw it fit to seek funds for an artificial leg as they don’t want the child to be stigmatised through using a wheel chair.

Mr Ndlovu said due to the poor roads, a wheel chair was inappropriate.

“At the moment she uses a wooden leg but as she grows she outgrows the leg giving her challenges in walking. Her grades could even improve if she regularly attends school but due to her condition she does not attend school frequently,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said Nontsikelelo lost her leg after it was burnt when she fell into a fire due to her illness leading to its amputation.

He said the wooden leg she has makes it difficult for her to even use the toilet by herself.

“It also causes friction that leads to her developing blisters on the thigh so she frequently needs medical attention. She doesn’t want to use a walking frame and a wheel chair as it alienates her from other children,” Mr Ndlovu said.

The school can be directly contacted on 0772862873 or the Nontsikelelo Moyo Disability Committee chairperson Mrs Thokozani Mumvuni or committee members 0775461635, Mrs Thabisiwe Dube on 0775506819 and Miss Sithembiso Masuku on 0784 390 452.

“We appeal for any form of assistance as the child’s situation is hopeless and needs collective efforts from all of us. No donation will be too little for her cause,” said Mr Ndlovu.

@nqotshili