By Beverly Bizeki
In what could be one of the most heartbreaking incidents of backyard medical operations , a three-month-old infant from Bikita died after a self-styled prophetess who was performing a tongue-tie cutting operation on her mistakenly cut her left cheek, which later resulted in her succumbing to excessive bleeding.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to seek medical assistance from qualified personnel.
“We confirm the death of a 3-month-old baby girl from Duma in Bikita who died after a tongue tie operation and the accused person has since been arrested. Such operations should be the preserve of qualified personnel,” said Dhewa.
Allegations are that on May 30 at around 1000 hours, 25-year-old Betty Chaka left her home in Duma, Bikita with the now deceased Nokutenda Muchini to Prisca Bvunyenge, a self-styled prophetess’ home in Makuwe Village, Chief Mukanganwi in Bikita for a tongue-tie cutting process.
Bvunyenge used a razor blade to perform the process and accidentally cut the left side of the baby’s mouth which made the baby bleed.
Chaka went home with the baby but returned as the bleeding continued and Bvunyenge tried to stop the bleeding using blackjack concoction remedy in vain. Chaka went back home and was advised not to use methylated spirit and had to go to the hospital at around 2000 hours on the same day.
Muchini was admitted at Silveira Mission Hospital where she died just after midnight on May 31 and the matter was reported to the police leading to Bvunyenge’s arrest.
