MAYA NTANDA –
A KITWE family suffering from a disease affecting the nervous system has appealed to Government and well wishers for support in accessing medication.
Mother of the affected members of the family, Regina Sakala said for the past four years, her children have been receiving assistance from the social welfare department and other well wishers.
Ms Sakala, whose husband also died from the disease, said in Kitwe yesterday that the family has been taking medication which was prescribed by the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and funded by the social welfare department and other well wishers.
She explained that the family was advised to be undergoing routine reviews at UTH every six months.
Ms Sakala, however, said that last year the family was given a prescription for medicine which was taken to the social welfare department in Kitwe.

• The Sakala family at their home in Kawama Township, from left is Elina Sakala, her younger sister Catherine, mother Regina Sakala, and brother Isaac. Picture by MOFFAT CHAZINGWA

The family was informed that the department would not manage to continue supporting the members as they had not received funding from the Government.
Ms Sakala said the family members were due for review in February this year, but she failed to take them, adding that they have not been on medication since last year in August.
“I have failed to take my affected children to the UTH because I cannot afford and they have not taken the medicine which was prescribed since August last year,” she lamented.
In 2009, medical experts assessed the family and found out that the condition affected the central nervous system.
Medical personnel prescribed some medicine and said that the family needed social support and mobility.
The family which initially used to reside in Chimwemwe Township, has since relocated to Kawama Township.
Three members of the family who include Mrs Sakala’s husband, Green, and two children have since died from the same disease leaving four others still sick.
These include Elina, 57, and her siblings, Catherin, 52, Stephen, 40, and Isaac, 36.