The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A three-month old baby is fighting for his life after his tongue was sliced into two by a neighbour in a botched backyard tongue-tie division procedure (kucheka rurimbo) in Chiadzwa recently, The Manica Post has learnt.
When The Manica Post caught up with the baby’s mother, Ms Beauty Muchayana on Tuesday, she said her neighbour, Mr Andrew Muchena, forcibly performed the procedure on her baby with a used razor blade.
Ms Muchayana said she did not consent for Mr Muchena to perform the procedure.
The illegal procedure left the baby with his tongue slit into two, from the tip of his tongue all the way to the throat.
The boy has been unable to breastfeed ever since the unfortunate incident about a month ago.
At just three months old, the baby has so far undergone three emergency surgical operations to repair his tongue as his stitches keep loosening up.
In total, he has received 16 stitches on his tongue.
During our crew’s visit, the baby was wailing non-stop, probably from pain and hunger.
His small tongue looks black from the stitches.
Narrating the sad ordeal, Ms Muchayana said her then one-month-old baby had not been feeding properly when she asked friends what could be the problem.
“They said my son was tongue-tied and advised me to get a tongue-tie division procedure done. I was told that Muchena was the one who could perform such procedures in our area.
“However, when I approached him, he said he did not know how to do it. A few days later, at around 5am on March 28, Muchena and another guy called Manjokoto knocked on my door and told me that they had come to do the procedure.
“I told them that I was not ready for it but they insisted and forcibly took charge. I could not witness the procedure and therefore I dashed outside and left them with my baby.
“A few minutes later, Manjokoto came outside shaking his head. He said there was chaos inside and that I had to go in and rescue my baby. When I got in, my baby was wailing uncontrollably and Muchena had stuffed a blood stained bed sheet inside his mouth.
“There was blood everywhere, he handed me the baby and apologized, saying he had failed on the mission,” said Ms Muchayana.
The woman says Muchena advised her not to tell anyone about what had happened.
From then on, the baby stopped feeding and was crying non-stop.
“I tried feeding the baby for two days but failed until I went to some white garment prophet for assistance,” she said.
Four days later, neighbours advised the woman to make a police report.
When Ms Muchayana called the police to make a report, she was advised to seek emergency medical attention first to save the baby’s life.
The baby received medical attention on the same day and had to stay in hospital for four days as he was being fed through some tubes to allow his tongue to heal.
After getting discharged, the baby still cannot breastfed due to the severity of the injury.
He is therefore receiving baby formula through a small plastic cup which delivers the milk directly to his throat.
His capacity to suck from a baby feeding cup is currently close to zero.
Sadly, the baby is long overdue for a review and his mother is appealing for well-wishers to help her financially.
“I asked Muchena to give me some money so that I could seek medical attention for my baby but he refused. Up to now, he has not offered me any help. As for the baby’s father, he is not in the picture as he refused paternity, so l am all alone,” said Ms Muchayana.
“We cannot see the doctor for a review without paying our arrears. We owe USD400 for the surgeries he went through and now we need an additional USD20 as consultation fees for the review.
“I am appealing for help. He needs the review so that we hear whether the most recent surgical operation was successful or not,” she said.
The distraught woman has since made a police report at Chikanga Police Station in Mutare.
According to paediatrician, Dr Dorcas Masanga-Mutede, tongue-tie division surgeries should be performed by Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist doctors.
Left untreated, moderate to severe cases of tongue-tie can cause problems, including feeding problems as well as speech impediments.
It is recommended that a child has the procedure before the age of 12 months to prevent the need for anaesthesia or sedation.
However, it can be performed when they are older as well.
Backyard tongue-tie division surgery involves cutting the short, tight piece of skin connecting the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth.
Usually, traditional midwives and elderly women in the community perform such procedures using unsterilised razor blades.
However, health experts discourage this as the results are almost always tragic, with some children getting infections.
Mutare gynaecologist and obstetrician, Dr Miriam Kanyenze said the illegal procedure is painful and might affect the baby’s health, or even claim their life.
“In many instances, if a baby has a tongue-tie and it is cut outside a hospital setting, they will continue to have trouble feeding and talking.
Nothing should be cut in a baby’s mouth, especially with unsterilised razors outside of a hospital setting.
“Mothers are encouraged to visit the clinic for medical attention and not worsen the situation by visiting backyard surgeries.
“They are encouraged to utilize our health facilities and not put babies’ lives at risk by engaging inexperienced people for such delicate procedures,” she said.
Efforts to contact Mr Muchena were fruitless as his phone was unreachable.
Those willing to help Ms Muchayana can reach her at 0780 844 085 or her sister Ms Maureen Mapati on 0774 364 306.
