Malawi Government has come in to the rescue of gospel musician Geoffrey Zigoma by pledging to fly him to India for skin cancer medication.
Currently, Zigoma is in deep pains at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali confirmed the development, saying the artist will leave the country once his travel documents are ready.
“We are currently processing his visa and once it is out, he will fly to India. The issue of visa is well beyond the ministry and we apply for the patients’ visas just as any other person wanting to travel to India. The hospital he is going to is Artemis in India,†said Chimbali.
This is not the first time for Zigoma to be admitted to the referral hospital for the same problem but, according to his uncle Obeck Likwemba, the situation is worse this time.
The uncle said the artist is surviving on drips of water and is in bad health.
Early this year, local musicians teamed up to raise funds for his medical trip to Tanzania but the money was not enough.
Speaking in an interview at the hospital, Likwemba said “The artist is living in deep pain.
“His condition has been critical since last weekend because he has also developed sores in his mouth and on the throat and he is struggling to eat,†said Likwemba.
Meanwhile, Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (Fedoma) is mobilising resources to help the artist travel to India for an operation.
Fedoma public relations officer Pamela Juma told Chill that her office is working hand in hand with the hospital to support government’s efforts.
