Blantyre Round Table gives Mangochi girl walking freedom

Blantyre Round Table Number 20 yesterday gave Patuma Mawindo, 7, an artificial leg and arm worth K150 000 during a function held at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.

The girl was born with physical challenges; a poorly developed right leg which negatively affected her access to education. She is a standard one student at St Augustine 3 Primary School.

“It was a terrible experience for my daughter to go to school as she had to limp for almost a kilometre to get there. Sometimes I could carry her on my back.

Today I am very happy that my daughter is able to walk on her own and she will be able to go to school without challenges. I am grateful to the donors,” said her father, Rodney Mawindo.

Blantyre Round Table chairperson Jason Pereira said they decided to help the girl after learning about her mobility challenges through a group called Kumangwetu ku Mangochi, which means “our home Mangochi”.

“We saw the need to help alleviate mobility challenges for the girl. As youths, we have a big role to play in helping the needy in the country,” said Pereira, who was accompanied by the Round Table community services officer Andrew Lulker, and projects officer Jean-Claude de Silva.

Blantyre Round Table is a group of young people aged between 18 and 40, which raises funds through golf

tournaments and other activities for charity. n