By Patience Gondo
CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe will bring its free mobile clinic outreach programme to Beitbridge District Hospital on 4 June 2026.
The outreach is part of a wider campaign to identify and assist children living with treatable disabilities in Matabeleland South Province.
The hospital said specialist teams will conduct free screenings and consultations for children suffering from conditions such as cleft lip and palate, burn contractures, clubfoot, knock knees, bowed legs, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones), windswept knees and neglected trauma.
“The outreach programme is targeting children aged between 0 and 18 years and aims to improve access to paediatric surgical care in communities far from major referral hospitals,”said the hospital.
“Our services are by appointment only and free of charge,”
According to the schedule released by the hospital, the mobile clinic programme will begin at Plumtree District Hospital on 13 May before moving to St Anne’s Mission Hospital on 14 May.
The team will then visit Gwanda Provincial Hospital on 1 June, Mtshabezi Hospital on 2 June, Manama Mission Hospital on 3 June, before concluding at Beitbridge District Hospital on 4 June.
“Screenings will run from 8am to 4pm at each venue,”
Cure Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe, a Christian non-profit organization working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said the outreach seeks to identify children requiring corrective surgery and specialised treatment.
Hospital officials encouraged parents and guardians with children suffering from physical deformities or untreated orthopaedic conditions to attend the clinic for assessment.
The institution offers paediatric surgical interventions including orthopaedic and plastic reconstructive surgery, anaesthesiology services, physiotherapy, diagnostic imaging, counselling, nursing care and pharmacy services.
Many of the conditions targeted during the outreach programme can significantly affect a child’s mobility, speech, growth and quality of life if left untreated.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth does not form properly during pregnancy.
Children born with the condition may experience feeding difficulties, speech problems, hearing complications and social stigma. Corrective surgery can greatly improve speech and facial development.
Clubfoot is a condition where a baby is born with one or both feet twisted inward and downward. Without treatment, affected children may struggle to walk properly. Early medical intervention, including casting and surgery, often produces successful outcomes.
Knock knees and bowed legs are conditions affecting leg alignment.
While mild cases may correct themselves as children grow, severe cases can interfere with walking and may require medical treatment or surgery.
Osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder that weakens bones, causing frequent fractures and skeletal deformities.
The condition requires specialised long-term management.
Burn contractures occur when scar tissue forms after severe burns, tightening the skin and limiting movement around joints.
Surgical procedures and physiotherapy can help restore mobility.
Google says early diagnosis and treatment are critical in preventing lifelong disability and improving children’s chances of living healthy and independent lives.