PARENTS of the conjoined Siamese twins who were successfully separated last year at Harare Central Hospital are finding it difficult to feed the two boys due to economic challenges.
The father of the twins, Moses Chitiyo, said the children were now being deprived of a balanced diet and other basic needs because expenses were exceeding his income.
The twins, Kupakwashe and Tapiwanashe Chitiyo, are now nine months.
They currently live at their grandmother’s house in Highfield, Harare, where they were transported from home to the hospital and local clinic for dressing.
“The twins are doing fine, only that we are facing serious financial challenges which then makes us not be able to provide them with what they need,” Chitiyo said.
“There is no more money for the business, our sales and what we are using is not tallying hence it becomes a challenge to balance all. I can no longer maintain the vegetable stall we had because there is no capital anymore to keep the business running.”
Chitiyo said he was now appealing for capital so that he would start a more self-sustaining venture. “We have a lot of problems, hence I have also started looking for a job. If I get one that would be better, at least we will know that we have a regular income,” Chitiyo said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The mother of the twins Agnes Mangoro said life had become difficult such that she at times would give the twins maheu (non-alcoholic beverage) to drink as there would be nothing to cook.
“I give them anything that I can afford and at times I give them maheu that is if I even have the money to buy a bottle. At times I cook porridge for them which will not be having anything like peanut butter, it has not been easy,” she said.
The nine-month-old boys were successfully separated by doctors at Harare Central Hospital in July last year.
The twins were born on April 22 last year conjoined from the lower chest to the upper abdomen and sharing the same liver.
They were delivered through Caesarian section at Murewa District Hospital and later transferred to Harare Central Hospital where a team of at least 50 health professionals joined forces to separate them.
President Robert Mugabe and First Lady Grace visited the twins soon after the historic operation and commended local doctors for excelling under difficult working conditions.
