New home present for cancer patient
FOR the past three years the hospital ward was her only home, but the 16-year-old girl from Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal is now back with her loved ones in time for Christmas after good Samaritans built her family a house.
Nokwethemba Dlamini from oThini, Mahlabathini in Ulundi, suffered from kidney cancer, had both her kidneys removed and had a transplant this year.
For the past three years she has been living at the Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital because her home was not in a suitable condition and could expose her to infections. Through the intervention of the Isisekelo Foundation, she returned home last week after the NGO convinced the Department of Human Settlements to build her a new house.
The foundation focuses on children who live in mud houses that are overcrowded, thus exposing kids to the health risk of fatal infections.
She received the house on Friday from Human Settlements MEC Ravi Pillay who attended the handover ceremony.
Nokwethemba’s older brother Khulekani Dlamini said they were happy she was back home.
“I normally visited her every second month, but my mother visited her every week. We are very happy she has healed and it was time for her to come back home,” he said.
He said they were also happy with the new house and were now waiting for the electricity to be turned on.
The foundation’s chief executive, Kholiswa Nonkwelo, said they were pleased they were able to assist Nokwethemba, saying there were still about 90 children on their list who needed similar assistance.
She said the lack of proper housing, especially for children facing sensitive and life threatening diseases, was a huge problem, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
She said many die within days of returning to their homes because of poor conditions.
Department of Human Settlements spokesperson Mbulelo Baloyi said handing over a house was painful because of the child’s home circumstances, but was also a happy occasion as the department was able to help.
“In the area where she lives there is no housing project happening so it was difficult to go there to build one house. But we are pleased it was built. This showed the caring side of our government.”
We are very happy that she has healed and it was time for her to come back home
Khulekani Dlamini Nokwethemba’s brother