Boy (12) glad to receive new prosthetic leg
A 12-year-old boy from Duduza, Nigel will soon receive a new prosthetic leg at a fraction of the cost.
Njabulo Sengwayo lost his left leg in an accident when he was about three years old.
He has outgrown his current prosthetic leg and needs a replacement, which he will get through Joos Huyzers, a medical orthotist and prosthetist based in Western Extension.
After the accident, Njabulo was provided with prosthetic legs through his mother, Nomsa Lindiwe Lillian Sengwayo’s medical aid, but when she died in 2012, Njabulo became dependent on his grandmother, Elly Malatjie.
Malatjie’s medical aid paid for a new leg in 2015, which Njabulo wears now, but the young man has outgrown the prosthetic limb. Huyzers pointed out how the prosthetic leg is too short for Njabulo to stand and walk correctly.
According to Huzyers, Njabulo’s mother lodged a claim with the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in 2008.
Malatjie said the RAF issued an undertaking in 2012 and paid out R2.2-million in 2014, but the lawyers working for the family disappeared with the money.
Njabulo needs a new prosthetic leg, but his grandmother cannot afford to pay for it herself and her medical aid will only cover a portion of the new leg.
Huyzers said the family approached him in April, after which he submitted a quotation for a new socket to the family’s medical aid. He said a normal quote would be around R106 000 for a new socket, but he reduced his to R46 000.
“Their medical aid is willing to pay about R37 000 of that, so the family will pay in about R9 000,” Huyzers said.
The medical professional then approached Össur, a company which provides most of his prosthetic equipment, with the story.
“Össur said they will sponsor Njabulo with a new knee and a carbon fibre foot, so that I can manufacture a complete new prosthesis and not just the socket,” Huyzers added.
The doctor said a problem with Njabulo is that he’s in his growing phase, meaning he will outgrow his prosthetic leg every one to two years, depending on how fast he grows.
“We’ll see when we get there. I might only have to change a few things. He has done his first fitting now, and in a few weeks’ time, we should have the parts from Össur, in order to finish the leg for him,” the prosthetist said.
Huyzers said Njabulo should have his new leg by mid-July.
Although Njabulo is shy and didn’t say much, he said the leg he’s wearing is uncomfortable and he’s excited and grateful to get a new prosthetic limb.
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