The ManicaPost
IT is not very usual in Zimbabwe to wake up to the same news headlines especially positive news given the polarised media environment, but for a change on July 9, 2014, both the public and private print media carried the same story on the successful operation on the Siamese twins.It has almost become a tradition for Zimbabwe to refer medical cases considered delicate to either South Africa or other countries like India, Singapore or Malaysia, but in this case things had to be done differently and differently they were done.
It is not a secret that Zimbabwe is a regular producer of some of the best brains in the whole world and I think what surprises most people is why our people have been excelling across borders while our own country languishes in poverty and distress.
One senior medical practitioner could not have said it any better when he said that it was not like there were no other major medical breakthroughs or successes happening in the country, but at times it has been a case of a prophet has no honour except in his country or ‘‘village’’.
While the above sentiments could not be far from the truth, it, however, also needs to be appreciated that among many achievements there is always one that is outstanding and in this case in the medical history of the country we are saying the successful op on the conjoined twins is a major achievement not only for the medical fraternity but the country as a whole. In fact, the medical feat has even come a little late because we really know what we are capable of achieving if we were to really fully exploit the various capabilities in our people. Isn’t it a miracle in itself that Zimbabwe is blessed with both intelligent citizens and a wide variety of valuable mineral resources yet surprisingly we still find ourselves struggling? This miracle operation was successfully carried out on July 1 and no foreign specialists were involved. According to Mr Bothwell Mbuwayesango, a participating paediatric surgeon in the operation, the success of this operation was as a result of proper planning and team work. He could not have said it any better.
The team of 50 worked tirelessly and in union to achieve this rare feat. The medical fraternity is made up of various specialties and they all had to at least play a part. We are talking of theatre staff, general practitioners, ultra sonographers, gynaecologists, obstetricians, anaesthetists, paediatricians, radiographers, paediatric surgeons, gastro-anthologists, pharmacists, neurologists and many others. All these skills were harnessed for a good cause and the results are there for all to see.
When we are united as a people we can achieve much. Maybe some people need to look back and reflect to see how much they could have achieved as a family, political party, church, school or musical group or company if they had been united or remained united. While individual talent needs to be appreciated it flourishes only when it’s getting enough support from a team.
A good example is the recently concluded World Cup finals. Germany emerged a deserving winner because they played with purpose and conviction and they played for each other, they played as a team.
They did not rely on one player for their success. Brazil made that mistake of bringing names or a name to the tournament and they learnt the hard way.
Argentina surprised themselves by reaching the finals, but again their greatest undoing was their over-reliance on Lionel Messi and it cost them a World Cup they could have easily won. Team work achieves more than individual brilliance.
Back home, the challenges that Zimbabwe is facing are not insurmountable only if we learn to appreciate each other and work together for the common good of this country. We can do it. If the team of 50 could do it other professions across Zimbabwe can do it as well.
We salute you all our medical practitioners for a job well done.
Shame Isak is a political analyst, business management consultant and preacher. He can be contacted on 0773 018 662 or 0714 694 784 and
e-mail: [email protected]
