SHAYANDIMA – Tshilidzini Special School is appealing to anyone who can help young Mpho Mathabi (9) so that he can use his artificial limbs.

Mathabi, from Dididi, is in Grade 3 at the Tshilidzini Special School. Both his parents are unemployed.

Mathabi has been using his legs to write because there were no funds to provide him with artificial limbs. However, half of his problem was solved last week Thursday, when 84 visitors from United State of America visited the school. The visitors who were all medical practitioners, included specialists like neurologists, dentists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, speech and hearing therapists, psychotherapists, nurses and students doctors from the Medical University of California and Venezuela.

In their four days stay, from May 26 to 29, the visitors examined all of the 413 learners at the school.

It was then that the visitors assembled and fitted these artificial limbs to young Mathabi who was first examined on April 15, by the group that first visited the school through the link of School of Tomorrow, also in Shayandima. Although Mathabi was given his limbs, the problem is that he won't be able to use them until such time when he can get a psychotherapist, who can train him to use them.

The school principal, Mbulaheni Maluma, said they did not have specialists in their school. "Many of these specialists come and go because of the low salary." Maluma said the problem was that the department regarded the positions of these specialist as teaching posts, which makes it difficult to see them as attractive and permanent; the department has also placed a moratorium on hiring full time teachers for now.

Maluma said they are appealling to anyone who can help Mathabi to use his limbs as they are now only used to give shape to his boy when he is dressed. Mathabi, the second child in a family of three children says he want to be a teacher when he grows up.

Anyone who wants to assist can phone Maluma at (015) 964 3197/8) or 083 438 8857.