A 28-year-old midwife at United Bulawayo Hospitals is set to undergo a kidney transplant in India after President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved funding for her treatment.
Princess Zinge, who is battling lupus, had been relying on costly dialysis after the autoimmune disease severely damaged her kidneys. Her family had been seeking approximately US$20,000 to meet the cost of the transplant.
According to The Chronicle, the intervention followed an appeal by Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube. The appeal was made after UBH Chief Medical Officer Dr William Busumani sought assistance for the dedicated health worker.
The approved funding will cover Zinge’s medical treatment in India, as well as the travel and accommodation expenses of her kidney donor and caregiver.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues and organs. The disease can affect several parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs and kidneys.
For Zinge, the assistance has offered renewed hope as she prepares for the transplant and a chance to return to a healthier and more stable life.