28/04/2021
Let us all stand up and speak against r**e. And to all well wishers let's take the lead in helping even with the little we can to help facilitate proper health care services. May the almighty heal her.
ANNA CRIES FOR HELP
Today, I went to check on a beautiful and innocent soul at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Her name is Anastasia (surname withheld) and is from Kafue town and is only Fifteen (15) years old. I came across her ordeal through a very close very who saw Buumba Malambo’s Facebook post about a girl who was gang r**ed. I was very sad to read about Anna’s ordeal and vowed to check on her the next day.
I found Anastasia lying helplessly in bed. She was not only gang r**ed by Six men who later inserted stones and sticks in her and severely damaged her; they cut off her left wrist and cut off two middle fingers on her right hand.
She is in so much pain. Standing by the bedside, for two minutes I could not say a word but face the other side to avoid shedding tears in from of the hospital staff. I regained my composure and called her name. She looked at me. God is my witness I couldn’t figure out or imagine her thoughts and the pain she is going through as she tilted her head to look at me. All I could say is “Anna, I am very sorry about what happened to you. God will protect you”.
Anastasia is being taken care of by her mother who practically has no means to take care of her daughter while in hospital. Well-wishers such as UTH staff, Cancer Diseases Hospital, Social Welfare office, Buumba Malambo Foundation and IK Charitable Trust. She needs help with food, drugs, payment for medical investig*tions, Sterile Gauze, Colostomy Bags among others.
Under the suspicion that the Six men could have broken her spine, the doctor has requested for an MRI scan and a request to grant her an exemption from paying for the scan. Today, the Cancer Diseases Hospital approved the request and granted her full exemption, meaning she won’t have to pay K1,800 but it will be free.
Anna needs any form of help. I pray her spine is not damaged. However, Anna needs all of us; the entire country to speak out against r**e and all forms of abuse. I don’t know how she will recover emotionally and psychologically. The physical scars have been left on her permanently. Only your help and prayers will give her hope and strength.
Let every single soul of this country offer help to this girl and all others in her situation. Many girls and women have lost lives. Others are living with this gruesome experience. To the media and others that read, it is a story. To the victims, it is a gruesome life experience you live with.
It is time to fight this inhuman act on our girls and women.
Oliver M. Nzala
