By: Zethu Gweva
Vuyolwethu Zweli, 30, from Dimbaza in King Williams Town is asking for an artificial leg. She had her left leg amputated in 2010 when she was diagnosed with Chronic Ulcer.
According to the 30 year old, before she was diagnosed with Chronic Ulcer, she was always in severe pain. The illness started as a small sore that suddenly spread throughout her leg which refused to heal. Vuyolwethu then went to the clinic where she was referred to the hospital and had her leg amputated.
Zweli, who has been on Cecilia Makiwane Hospital artificial leg waiting list since 2018 makes a living out of selling maize at Dimbaza taxi rank and uses crutches to move around. She expressed that crutches strain her arms which makes it difficult to take walks and go to work.
“̈These crutches are painful and I have to use them everyday to go to the taxi rank and home as I have no other choice. I can’t fold my arms or sleep like everyone else. I have to spread my arms across the bed so I can relax because my arms are always painful,”̈ she said.
The sudden leg loss according to Zweli makes her feel useless and worthless, she said she finds herself drowning her sorrows in alcohol.
“I find myself buying alcohol with the little money I make from selling maize, I can’t be a good mother to my child. Ever since I lost my leg, life has been more difficult because who would employ a person with one leg,” she said.
Zweli is pleading with anyone to help her get an artificial leg. She longs to be able to walk around again and maybe find a job where she will earn enough money to feed herself and her child.