The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
HIGH incidence of cerebral palsy — a group of severe disabling conditions among some children — at Inyati Mine, Makoni District, has put to fore the need to conduct an epidemiological study to establish if there is link between environmental contamination and congenital malformation in children.
Inyati Mine was decommissioned in the early 1990s, but villagers are witnessing worrying cases of birth defects which are now suspected to be emanating from exposure to toxic metals and chemicals.
Of late, there has been an attempt to resuscitate copper and gold in the area.
Cerebral palsy is a group of health conditions that affect body movement and is related to a brain injury or problem that occurs during pregnancy or birth.
It is one of the most common causes of lasting disability in children.
Its associated problems include intellectual disability, seizures as well as vision and hearing problems. The condition is permanent and has no cure.
A health expert who refused to be named citing protocol said mercury and cyanide pose a serious health threat to children in mining communities, by either touching or inhaling their vapour.
“They may also be exposed to these toxic chemicals as their parents process gold at home or by eating fish from mercury-infested rivers.
“These chemicals attack the central nervous system and causes developmental and neurological problems in children. It is particularly dangerous to foetuses and infants because their bodies are still developing,” he said.
Makoni South legislator, Cde Misheck Mataranyika and Cde Shepard Nyika, who were in the area to donate wheelchairs to George Gwata (four), Panashe Sinos (15), Dylan Mhenyu (10) and Thanks Chaka (nine) — who are encumbered by the disease are pursuing the matter with universities and development partners to assist in investigating the cause of illness in the children.
Businessman, Mr Simon Takainga also donated food hampers to the children’s families.
“When you have the same disease affecting different families in the same area, it means something is causing it. This is a mining area, and children can be vulnerable to the impacts of mining, especially from birth as they experience formative physical development.
“There is need for universities and development partners to do research to establish if exposure to chemical waste is not contributing to this,” said Cde Mataranyika.
The affected families are vulnerable and lack access to health care, adequate nutrition, attention, opportunities for play and formal education.
Lack of access to rehabilitation and health care, financial and nutritional support is influencing the resource poor parents’ decisions to keep these children indoors.
“Combating a host of problems relies on moving these children out of the shadows — acknowledging the necessity of protecting their basic welfare and human rights. Neglect of children with disabilities is heartbreaking and completely unpardonable,” said Cde Mataranyika.
Cde Nyika said they were touched by the plight of the children and decided to pool resources together to assist them.
“We have so far assisted with six wheelchairs which we bought for US$1 500. We have also assisted 60 other disabled children and adults with food hampers, and we are looking at ways of assisting more as pleas for assistance keep growing,” said Cde Nyika.
Zanu PF district chairman in the affected area, Cde Levison Beni, said more parents are now coming forward seeking assistance after learning of the wheelchair donation by Cdes Mataranyika and Nyika.
“We want the outbreak of the disease to be looked into. I have more than 15 children queuing for assistance, among them two Grade 7 pupils who are pushed in wheelbarrows to and from school.
“Most of these children are kept indoors,” said Cde Beni.
Parents of the children who spoke to The Manica Post said they lack basics like food, rehabilitative and health care, adequate nutrition, clothing and bedding as well as assistive devices to support them.
Mrs Monica Sinos thanked Cde Mataranyika and his team for making their burden easier.
“The problem started when she was four months, and she is now 15. She has never walked. For all these years it has been my wish to have a wheelchair for her, but I could not do anything about it due to poverty. I have been forced to carry her on my back yet I have a chronic condition which makes it difficult for me to carry her.
“My other appeal is for a mattress as she ends up developing bedsores by sleeping on the floor. I also need pampers, blankets and food,” she said.
