By Style reporter
Bridget Zireni, the girl from Murambinda who was operated on at Chitungwiza Central Hospital last year to remove a massive tumour that had grown in her stomach, has died.
After her successful operation on May 24, 2018, Zireni fell ill again seven months later and was this year diagnosed as having cancer of the abdomen, which had spread. She succumbed to the cancer on April 21.
Zireni made newspaper headlines after the story of her “mysteriously” bloated tummy, which made her appear like she was heavily pregnant, was captured in local media.
Chitungwiza Central Hospital public relations officer Nyaradzai Tasaranarwo confirmed Zireni was no more and that she was buried in her rural home in Buhera.
“The operation to remove the tumour was hugely successful and she was discharged to her family home to recover,” said Tasaranarwo.
“However, seven months after the successful operation, she was taken ill again and was brought back to the hospital where she was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, she could not make it.”
Zireni’s story, which was also beamed prominently on national television two years ago, drew sympathy from everywhere across the country. Her parents were at a loss about the cause of her condition and had even taken her for pregnancy tests, which came out negative.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Further medical examination finally diagnosed a massive tumour that was growing in her stomach which required urgent removal.
Zireni’s poor family could not afford the fees for surgery and meanwhile the poor girl had reached a point where she could hardly walk as her tummy had grown to the size of a full-term pregnancy.
Her father had become a common sight on news clips on television and in newspapers pleading for help. He was looking for about $3 000 which was required for the operation and which him and his family had failed to raise.
The costs included money for blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound scans, CT scans, theatre and drug charges.
The then CEO Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Obadiah Moyo, who is now Health and Child Care minister, is one of those that read about Zireni’s sad circumstances and said he was deeply moved by her story. He immediately offered free and full medical treatment for the girl and she was admitted into hospital where doctors set out to work on her.
Zireni was taken into the theatre on May 24, 2018 and the operation was successful. Doctors removed the huge mass of flesh weighing about 18kg, which explained her pregnancy-like condition.
Bridget died on her birthday –— April 21, and was buried at Mhete village, Murambinda, her rural home.
