By Isaac Salima:
Thirty-nine-year-old David Bagile from Chigumula Township in Blantyre is all smiles after going through a successful surgical operation for a huge tumour that had developed on his left jaw.
His plight came to light through a story published in The Daily Times’ edition of May 27 2024 in which he indicated that he was seeking K6 million to undergo surgery at a private hospital within the commercial city.
Bagile was number 153 on the list of people to undergo operation at government’s Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
It would take him up at least three years to be assisted by the sole jaw and facial surgery specialist in Malawi Dr James Mchenga.
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However, after the story was published, Bagile’s name was put on the list of those to be assisted as a matter of urgency and, today, he is all smiles after the 13-hour operation went on well.
“I feel good that God has given me other years to stay on this earth. The pain was unbearable and I thank The Times Group for publishing the story which has changed my life. I also thank the medical personnel for their wonderful job,” he said.
His wife Nancy Gusto said she was happy that peace had returned in their home.
“We could not sleep because he was in pain all night. I thank God for this,” Gusto said.
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Mchenga, the only specialist in a field called oral and maxillofacial surgery, conducted the operation on the patient.
It was courtesy of a team of United States-based Smiling Surgeons who arrived in the country to conduct maxillofacial surgeries.
The 10-member team operated on 40 patients.
However, according to Mchenga, Malawi still has over 200 people with facial conditions waiting to be operated on.
