Since opening the doors to the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) department, CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe has already witnessed significant progress. Dumi, the newly appointed P&O Manager, together with his assistant Prince, has seen several patients and completed multiple orthotic and prosthetic devices. Their early contributions are already proving integral to the hospital’s surgical ecosystem.
The establishment of the P&O department is paving the way for greater collaboration across departments, a development the entire team is eager to embrace. The proximity of the workshop within the hospital is a true game-changer, enhancing the learning environment. Surgeons can now observe P&O practices firsthand, while the P&O team gains valuable surgical insights.
“Having the P&O department in the hospital will definitely change a lot. The collaborative working environment means patients won’t have to wait long for their devices,” says Dumi.
Among the first patients to receive a prosthesis is Kudakwashe, a young man whose dribbling skills and speed left Dumi feeling like an amateur soccer player after fitting him with his prosthesis. “My mother used to tell me not to play soccer with my old prosthesis because she feared it would break, but this new prosthesis is strong, and the manager (Dumi) said I can go ahead and play soccer with it,” smiles Kudakwashe.
For Margaret Guyan, CURE International’s Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics, the progress since her last visit is remarkable. “The biggest difference now is that we have a team, Dumi and his assistant, Prince,” she notes. “The workshop is complete, fully equipped, and functioning. We now have a proper clinic space, a welcoming environment where we can see children, do fittings, and take measurements.”
What stands out most is not simply the addition of a new department, but the momentum gathering within it. As CURE Zimbabwe continues to restore mobility and dignity to children, the P&O unit is rapidly becoming more than an add-on; it is emerging as a cornerstone of care, shaping a future where no child has to wait longer than necessary to stand, walk, or run again.
Your support ensures that children like Kudakwashe receive timely, high-quality devices and the chance to move freely. Join us in building a future where no child has to wait for the mobility and dignity they deserve. Donate today and become part of this life-changing journey
About the CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe
Established in April 2021, CURE Zimbabwe is the first and only hospital in the country of 14 million people to provide orthopedic care for disabilities such as clubfoot, bowed legs, and knock knees to children regardless of their economic status. The teaching hospital has 18 beds, three operating theaters, and an outpatient clinic. The hospital was refurbished by the Zimbabwe Orthopedic Trust in partnership with the Zimbabwean government and is located adjacent to United Bulawayo Hospital in Bulawayo.
