"As the Department of Health and Social Development, we will ensure that young Ndivhuwo is assisted by specialists at a provincial hospital." That is the comment of the spokesperson of the Department of Health and Social Development, Mr Phuthi Seloba, after Mirror informed him about Ndivhuwo Sibei, who is suffering from lizard skin disease.

Ndivhuwo Sibei (8), of Madabani Village in the Sinthumule area, started developing lizard skin all over his body shortly after he was born in a local health centre, Tshilwavhusiku, in 1999. This grade 3 pupil at Madabani Primary School never enjoyed his childhood. His unemployed mother, Fhatuwani Sibei (28), says after her son developed the disease, she was referred to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital by the nurses at the clinic. According to her, she stayed for a week and he was later transferred to the provincial hospital in Polokwane, where she stayed for a month.

Fhatuwani, who looked very sad in an interview with Mirror at her home last week, added that she had already visited several doctors, traditional healers, and various hospitals in the province, but she never found anyone who was able to help her son. She also outlined that she had spent a lot of money, to no avail

She added that the other boys are not treating her son well and the older boys are intimidating him when they are playing. "They call him names, like Lizard " says, the mother.

In an interview with Mirror, Ndivhuwo himself complained of experiencing unpleasant feelings all the time, caused by the disease. The Limpopo provincial spokesperson of the Department of Health and Social Development, Mr Phuthi Seloba, said that the young boy must be taken to Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, so that he can be transferred to the provincial hospital, where he would be assisted by the specialists.

The mother is also pleading with anyone who can assist to come forward. Anyone who is willing to assist can phone 073 254 1177 or 073 192 3438.