The Sunday News
Tendai Bhebe, Sunday News Correspondent
A 20-year-old Gweru man is battling an unusual life-threatening condition, oral cavity cancer and is appealing for assistance to undergo an operation.
Mr Tafadzwa Ngwenya from Woodlands is appealing for US$1 000 from well-wishers to assist in paying for the operation.
Mr Ngwenya and his family have failed to raise the required money. In an interview, Mr Ngwenya said the condition started in 2017 and he never went for surgery or chemotherapy due to financial constraints.
“In 2017 the cancer started as a toothache, it got swollen and I did not take it seriously as I thought it would get better after sometime. So I visited a doctor and was given medicine. However, the toothache would stop but after a while it would start all over again. So I went back to the hospital as the swollen gum grew bigger. At that time that’s when I was diagnosed with oral cavity cancer but I could not afford to go for surgery. I only took pain killers to ease the pain. I never got serious medical attention.”
He told Sunday News that he is now surviving on donations from people to get food.
“Every day I come to town and beg for money from people in the streets so that I can have something to eat. My family and I cannot afford money for chemotherapy, let alone surgery. It has been three years now and the condition is troubling me,” said Mr Ngwenya.
He added: “I wish to be well again so that I can take care of my mother and siblings as we are struggling just to have basic commodities at home. I dropped out of school in Grade Three because my mother could not afford to pay my fees.”
Those willing to help Mr Ngwenya can contact him on 0782651291.
