Raymond Jaravaza, ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw
WHEN the handle of a bucket of hot water broke, scalding Susan Chiguvare’s feet, her first thought wasn’t of the searing pain. It was of a much deeper fear: the fear of seeking help. A Zimbabwean living in Johannesburg, Chiguvare, knew that public hospitals in South Africa had become no-go zones for migrants.
For months, vigilante groups like Operation Dudula have been storming these facilities, publicly humiliating and forcefully removing foreigners, with their actions often filmed and shared online for the world to see.
“I was really scared of going to a Johannesburg hospital. The thought of being filmed by the Operation Dudula members and being dragged out of the hospital for the whole world to see online is not something I’m ready to go through,” Chiguvare told the Saturday Chronicle.
Even in excruciating pain, she was ready to make the journey back home to Zimbabwe to get medical help, an indication of the terror gripping her community. Fortunately, her brother had another option. He connected her with a group of Zimbabwean doctors and nurses working underground in South Africa. She got in touch with a registered nurse, “Sister Gugu,” and a few days later, the wounds on her feet began to heal.
“Now two months later, after the accident, I have completely healed and I have started working again,” Chiguvare said.
Amid the rising tide of xenophobic attacks on migrants seeking medical care, a group of Zimbabwean medical professionals has emerged to give hope to stranded patients. This collective, known as the Tele Health Programme, is a network of 41 Zimbabwean doctors and nurses who have become a lifeline for their countrymen.
Leading the charge is registered nurse Butholezwe Nyathi. He explained that the group, which can be reached via WhatsApp, has so far assisted more than 2 000 people across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
“When Operation Dudula started targeting what they called illegal foreigners from accessing medical services in South Africa, we took it upon ourselves as Zimbabwean medical professionals based in South Africa to assist our fellow countrymen and women.
“We took an oath to save lives when we joined the medical profession. So, we couldn’t just sit and watch while Zimbabweans in dire need of medical services suffered in silence,” said Nyathi.
The majority of those they help are in the Gauteng Province, where the largest population of Zimbabweans resides.
The group has assisted hundreds of people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and epilepsy.
The Tele Health Programme operates without a physical facility, instead offering virtual consultations and making house calls for medical emergencies.
“Medical services don’t come cheap, but we try to lessen the financial burden on our compatriots who are struggling money-wise to access life-saving medical services that they no longer get from South African public hospitals for fear of Operation Dudula,” Nyathi stated.
The group is even branching out. Bekithemba Ndlovu, another registered nurse specialising in HIV treatment, said they have so far assisted 18 women with childbirth.
“We also work with South African midwives who have been very helpful in our quest to give Zimbabweans quality medical services,” he said.
Ndlovu noted that patients with more serious conditions like asthma attacks, heart problems, and seizures are also a priority.
While the majority of their services are virtual, they also offer face-to-face assistance for serious medical emergencies. Ndlovu also had a message for the community.
“Some of the common conditions that our patients suffer from include asthma attacks, heart problems, respiratory distress and seizures. The biggest setback that we have noticed is that some people think we are running a scam, but we would like to reassure Zimbabweans based in South Africa that we are qualified medical professionals who took an oath to assist patients.”
Edward Muchengeti, a Bulawayo businessman and member of the programme, has seen its value first-hand. He said the group has seen a surge in patients who have non-emergency needs and that technology has helped in getting them the necessary information.
Muchengeti’s own relative, who was burnt by boiling water, received help from the programme.
“She is eternally grateful for the assistance that she got at a time when she could not turn to a public hospital in Johannesburg for fear of Operation Dudula members,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Tele Health Programme is hoping to partner with organisations such as Doctors Without Borders to expand its reach and continue its vital work in the shadows.
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