By Primrose Dzotsa

CHINHOYI – A mother with a child, who has special needs is appealing for assistance so that she and other mothers with children with special needs can look after their children adequately.
Trish Yafele (37), a single mother of two boys aged 14 and three, has single-handedly been taking care of her son, who has special needs. Her partner died last June.
The older of the two children is unable to walk, talk or sit on his own. He is unable to visit the toilet on his own and so uses pampers. He needs special attention as he sometimes bites his tongue and cries because he needs to be changed sides when he is sleeping.

Yafele, who survives on vending, says she needs assistance as do other mothers in a similar situation.
She says that she is looking to the Government or other organisations for assistance so that she can venture into business, which will assist not only her but other mothers who are also faced with the insurmountable task of caring for their children and also providing food and other necessities for them.
Yafele advised other mothers and caregivers of children with special needs to look after their children with love.
“Let us take good care of these children with a kind and loving heart. They are blessings from God. Let’s not be cruel, let’s love them, pray for them and give them what they need. If we are blessed to have a little more let’s help others in the same situation rather than waiting for the Government to do so.”
Yafele says she tried to get an education for her son, but found it taxing because she had to stay with him all the time even though at the same time she needed to go and work so that she could put food on the table.
The school eventually told her that her son needed home-based care.