THE dogs that mauled a Bulawayo woman last month had
rabies. The five dogs bit chunks of flesh out of Ms Cherish Muchegwa’s arms and
legs.
A report from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural
Settlement in the department of veterinary services at the central veterinary
laboratory states that two of the dogs that attacked Ms Muchegwa were rabid.
The dogs have since been put down. The Vet Department urged
all people who were bitten by the dogs or had a history of contact to go for
rabies vaccination.
“The dogs tested positive for rabies. All personnel who
were in contact with the dogs should be vaccinated immediately against rabies.
The rest of the animals at risk (that interacted with the rabid dogs) should be
vaccinated against rabies,” read the report.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce,
Cde Raj Modi, has found doctors who have agreed to perform reconstructive
surgery on Ms Muchegwa for a cheaper fee of US$10 000 in India.
The Bulawayo South legislator negotiated with Kiran
Hospital for a further 30 percent discount leaving the bill at US$7 000.
The initial quotation for the procedure was pegged at US$25
000 or RTGS$120 000 locally, a figure that was too steep for Ms Muchegwa and
her husband Mr Joseph Masaiti.
The couple has been receiving donations from locals but the
money had been going towards pre-surgery treatment.
Pre-surgery treatment ensures the wounds do not get septic
while awaiting actual surgery.
ZB Bank donated $5 000 and Cde Modi had donated $3 500
which were gobbled up by pre-surgery care.
Deputy Minister Modi said he was relieved to get a cheaper
quotation, but said more was still to be done to mobilise funds for Ms
Muchegwa.
Donations are being channelled through Abundant Life
Revival Mission International, ZB Account Number 4304413264080 Jason Moyo
branch, Bulawayo.
In an interview yesterday, Ms Muchegwa’s husband, Mr
Masaiti said: “We are so grateful for the love shown by Zimbabweans who have
been helping us so much. We have spent over $10 000 and we now owe Mater Dei
Hospital where my wife was initially admitted. We appeal for your continued
support so that we can get my wife the help that she needs. Most of the medical
supplies that we buy are charged in forex so it has depleted the money that we
have been receiving as donations”.
He thanked Cde Modi for taking an active role in ensuring
his wife is treated.
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