On April 21, 2026, CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe marked five years since performing its first two corrective surgeries — a modest beginning that has since grown into a movement of healing and restored hope for children across Zimbabwe.
Since opening its doors, CURE Zimbabwe has recorded 18,555 total patient visits and 4,411 admissions. The hospital has also performed 5,505 surgical procedures, reached 61,864 people with the gospel, witnessed 4,145 faith expressions, and trained 2,294 clinical professionals.
But milestones are not only measured in numbers.
They are seen in children who can now walk to school without pain, wear shoes comfortably, play with friends, take part in church and school activities, and move through life with renewed confidence.
The need remains significant. UNICEF Zimbabwe estimates that 1 in 10 children in Zimbabwe have a disability, and only 1 in 3 of those children are enrolled in school.
For children living with treatable conditions, timely access to specialised surgical care can make a lasting difference — helping them stay in school, move more comfortably, participate in family and community life, and grow with dignity.
For CURE Zimbabwe, the mission has always stretched beyond the operating room. Alongside specialised paediatric surgical care, the hospital provides emotional and spiritual support rooted in its commitment to healing the sick and sharing the gospel with every family that walks through its doors.
“We have come a long way in reaching more than 5,500 surgeries, a significant milestone that highlights the great need and demand for specialised paediatric care in the country,” said Jonathan Simpson, Executive Director at CURE Zimbabwe. “As we provide physical healing, we also minister spiritual healing, bringing about total life transformation in each and every child we serve. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity and privilege to serve God and to be used by Him in serving the nation of Zimbabwe.”
To commemorate this milestone, the hospital reconnected with five children who received surgery in 2021, the year CURE Zimbabwe opened its doors.
These five children are not the only stories from CURE Zimbabwe’s first year. But they represent the beginning of a much bigger story — one that has continued through thousands of surgeries, countless answered prayers, and families whose lives have been changed.
Five years later, their stories offer a glimpse of the lasting impact of corrective surgery and the futures made possible when children receive the care they need.
Tanaka: From Walking on the Sides of Her Feet to Running Freely
Tanaka was born with clubfoot, a condition that caused her feet to turn inward and downward, forcing her to walk on the sides of her feet. When she first came to CURE Zimbabwe in 2021, she was full of energy and joy, twirling around the ward with a big smile.
After casting and corrective surgeries, Tanaka’s feet were straightened, giving her the chance to walk, run, and wear shoes comfortably.
Today, her mother, Grace, says the transformation has been remarkable.
“Tanaka goes to school now, and she is doing very well,” Grace said. “The biggest thing is that she can now wear shoes. God is good. There is a significant change. Right now, I see her playing, helping with chores around the house, and doing things independently.”
What once limited Tanaka’s mobility no longer defines her childhood. Today, she is learning, playing, helping at home, and moving with the freedom her mother once prayed for.
Minenhle: Healing Beyond the Physical
As a toddler, Minenhle walked normally, but after she started school, her legs gradually became bowed. The condition, known as bowed legs, made walking more difficult and also made her a target for teasing from other children.
In 2021, Minenhle came to CURE Zimbabwe for corrective surgery. Her treatment happened in stages, first on one leg and then the other, helping straighten her legs and restore her ability to walk with confidence.
Five years later, her mother, Sithandazile, says her daughter’s life has changed in more ways than one.
“She is currently at boarding school and doing very well,” she said. “She is able to take care of herself.”
For the family, the experience at CURE extended beyond medical treatment.
“We are a Christian family, and she enjoyed interacting with the pastors and attending church services,” Sithandazile explained. “It strengthened what she already knew spiritually and helped her grow.”
One lesson, in particular, stayed with Minenhle long after leaving the hospital: generosity.
“She learned about giving while she was at CURE, and even now, she is a very generous person. That has stayed with her.”
Minenhle’s healing was not only seen in her legs. It was also seen in her confidence, her independence, and the way she continues to carry what she learned with her.
Lubelihle: No Longer the Girl Other Children Laughed At
When Lubelihle first arrived at CURE Zimbabwe, she loved learning, reading the Bible in English, and talking about her favourite Bible stories. But school had not always been easy for her.
Born with extra fingers and toes, Lubelihle often endured ridicule from other children. As she grew, wearing shoes also became more difficult. In 2021, she received surgery at CURE Zimbabwe to remove the extra digits and help her move forward with greater comfort and confidence.
Five years later, her grandmother says those painful experiences are now behind her.
“She goes to school, she goes to church, and she is doing her Form Two,” her grandmother said. “She is involved in sports like soccer, and her friends no longer laugh at her.”
Instead, Lubelihle is flourishing socially, academically, and spiritually.
“She is very bright and active in church activities, including Sunday school,” her grandmother added.
The girl who once felt singled out because of her hands and feet is now growing with confidence, surrounded by friends, learning, serving, and taking part in the activities she loves.
Kayleigh: The Simple Joy of Wearing Shoes
Kayleigh was just four years old when she arrived at CURE Zimbabwe with macrodactyly, a condition that caused two toes on her left foot to grow abnormally large.
For her mother, Ratidzo, one of the biggest concerns was something many families may take for granted: shoes. Before surgery, Kayleigh struggled to wear closed-toe shoes comfortably, and her mother often had to buy shoes in two different sizes.
“She couldn’t wear shoes because her toes were very big,” Ratidzo said. “Now she is able to wear shoes comfortably.”
At CURE Zimbabwe, Kayleigh received surgery to reduce the size of her affected foot, making it easier for her to wear shoes and move comfortably.
Since the operation, the improvement has been lasting.
“She no longer faces those challenges, and she has never complained about pain,” Ratidzo said.
For many children treated at CURE, healing is seen in ordinary moments — walking to class, playing with friends, wearing shoes, or joining daily life without discomfort or fear of being singled out.
For Kayleigh, that simple joy has made all the difference.
Thamsanqa: Growing Into Himself
Thamsanqa was a healthy, active boy who loved playing football when his mother, Tsitsi, began noticing that his legs were bowing outward. Concerned that the condition could worsen and affect his future mobility, she sought help and was referred to CURE Zimbabwe.
In 2021, Thamsanqa received surgery to correct his bowed legs, giving him a better chance to continue walking, running, and playing as he grew.
Five years later, Tsitsi says her son is thriving.
“He is doing very well and going to school without challenges,” she said. “When we were at CURE, we were encouraged spiritually and grew in understanding.”
She also sees the physical transformation clearly.
“Having bowed legs made him appear shorter, but now he is very tall and growing well,” she said. “He plays sports and runs at school.”
What began as a mother’s concern has become a story of early intervention, healing, and growth. Today, Thamsanqa is not only walking well — he is running, playing, and growing into the boy his mother always believed he could become.
More Than a Milestone
For CURE Zimbabwe, five years represents more than an anniversary. It marks thousands of restored childhoods, renewed confidence, strengthened families, and futures filled with hope.
Each of these five children was among the early CUREkids treated in 2021. Today, their stories remind us that surgery is not only about what happens in theatre. It is about what becomes possible afterwards.
A child returns to school.
A girl wears shoes comfortably.
A boy runs across the playground.
A family gives thanks to God for healing they once prayed for.
And while 5,505 surgical procedures is a significant milestone, the need for specialised paediatric surgical care in Zimbabwe remains great. Many children are still waiting for treatment that could transform their lives.
As CURE Zimbabwe looks ahead to the next five years, the mission continues: to provide life-changing surgical care, share the love of Christ, and help more children experience healing in body and spirit.
Many more children in Zimbabwe are still waiting for the care they need.
Your prayers and generosity can help provide life-changing surgery, spiritual care, and hope for children and families across Zimbabwe.
Click here to help heal more children in Zimbabwe.
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.
