Bulawayo– For Mrs. Mvelaphi Nyoni, a retired teacher from Njube suburb, living with diabetes has been a 20-year struggle. Every day, she injects herself with insulin four times to manage her condition. Yet, the pain that shoots through her hands and feet, especially at night, has been far harder to cope with. Medication to ease that discomfort has often been beyond her reach.
Recently, however, Mrs. Nyoni found some respite. She was among scores of elderly residents who benefitted from free medical services and medication provided at a health expo hosted by the Brian Samuriwo Foundation at the Njube Shopping Centre. The initiative, spearheaded by Brian Samuriwo, the Member of Parliament for Emakhandeni-Luveve constituency, targeted senior citizens from eight western suburbs of Bulawayo.
The event drew participants from Njube, Lobengula, Pelandaba, Iminyela, Mabuthweni, Mpopoma, Entumbane, and Emakhandeni, offering them much-needed health checks, prescriptions, and medication at no cost.
Like the rest of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Nyoni was first attended to by a nurse who checked her blood pressure before being referred to a doctor. After consultation, the doctors prescribed appropriate treatment, which was then dispensed by an on-site pharmacist.
“I don’t sleep well at night because of sharp pains in my hands and feet,” she explained. “The doctor told me this is common for diabetic patients, especially older ones like me. I was given medication to ease the pain while continuing with my daily insulin injections. Thankfully, the doctor ruled out arthritis, which I feared I might have developed.”
Her story echoed that of many elderly residents, who live with chronic illnesses but lack the resources to seek regular treatment.
Among those assisted was Mr. Joshua Sibanda from Iminyela, who suffers from hypertension. He expressed gratitude for receiving free medication, stressing how the initiative had eased a heavy burden.
“It’s good to know there are still people like Cde Samuriwo who care about the elderly,” Sibanda said. “The medication was free for everyone, and no one was asked about political affiliation. We were all treated equally as senior citizens of Bulawayo.”
The large turnout at the health expo highlighted the deep need for affordable healthcare among Bulawayo’s elderly. The majority of attendees were living with hypertension, diabetes, or arthritis, conditions that require consistent management but are often neglected due to cost.
Free Health Expo Brings Relief to Elderly Residents in Bulawayo
Through the health expo initiative, the Brian Samuriwo Foundation has been making a notable impact by bridging the healthcare gap for older residents. The foundation’s approach involves setting up temporary medical centers across Bulawayo neighborhoods on a rotational basis, ensuring that essential healthcare services reach as many people as possible.
According to Cde Samuriwo, who also chairs the Bulawayo Zanu-PF business committee, the program reflects his broader commitment to philanthropy. He revealed that the idea to expand the initiative was encouraged by provincial party chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda, who urged him to extend his business-supported charitable activities to the elderly population.
“We are using part of our business profits to support the elderly as a way of giving back to the community that sustains us,” Cde Samuriwo said. “Most of the people who patronize our businesses are the children and grandchildren of the elderly we are assisting. The health expo will cover all corners of Bulawayo Province until we are satisfied that every elderly resident has accessed free medical services and received the right medication for their ailments.”
The initiative has won praise for its inclusivity, with beneficiaries noting that assistance was offered regardless of political affiliation. This was underscored by Cde Sibanda, who commended the program for “spreading goodwill to the citizens of Bulawayo regardless of their political background.”
Beyond the medication and check-ups, the health expo also played a vital role in raising awareness about preventive healthcare. Doctors and nurses engaged with the elderly on how to better manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, encouraging consistent treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
For many senior citizens in Bulawayo, the cost of healthcare remains a daily struggle. Pension payouts are meager, and medication for chronic conditions is expensive. Initiatives like the Samuriwo Foundation’s health expo are therefore not only welcome but also critical lifelines for the vulnerable.
For Mrs. Nyoni, the relief was immediate. With her new prescription, she can now hope for restful nights, free from the stabbing pains that have long plagued her. For others like Mr. Sibanda, access to blood pressure medication at no cost means more time to focus on family and community rather than the stress of affording treatment.
As the foundation continues to roll out health expos across the province, the initiative is proving to be more than just an act of charity—it is becoming a model of community-based healthcare, showing how targeted, localized interventions can improve lives and restore dignity to the elderly.
Source- Herald
