Fire crackers: Boy needs 4 surgical ops

A BOY (13) who was seriously injured in a fire cracker explosion is now facing four surgical operations to repair damages on his face.

The boy, a Grade 5 pupil at Dungwiza Primary School in Chitungwiza, sustained serious facial injuries in January.

The surgical operations are to be done separately at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Initially, the boy was supposed to undergo five operations, the first of which was conducted in January at the same hospital after well-wishers donated $54 000 to cover his medical bills.

The first operation focused on cleaning and stitching the wounds on the face and mouth.

Ms Rudo Munhungaupi, said her son is in pain and not in a stable condition. She is appealing to well-wishers to help her raise US$2 160 needed for the boy to undergo the second operation aimed at constructing the chin.

“My son is in pain, I am appealing to well-wishers if they can help me to raise the money needed to conduct the second surgical operation of maintaining the chin to be conducted at the hospital.

“About US$2 160 is needed for the second operation of constructing the chin. I am appealing to well-wishers to help me because I am a widow and I am unemployed, I have no source of income,” said Ms Munhungaupi.

The second operation is set to remove some tissue from other parts of his body and cover the chin, nose and some part of face while the third operation will focus on construction and maintenance of lips.

The fourth and last operation will focus on constructing gums and lastly, maintenance of teeth and gums. The boy connected a firecracker to a solar panel and used his tongue to test current flow, resulting in the fire-cracker exploding and his tongue being split into two.

Doctors have suggested that the child needs to go for plastic surgery outside Zimbabwe once all operations have been conducted.

Ms Munhungaupi said those willing to assist can contact her on 0788124461 or send donations to the same number.