STAFF WRITER
A 35 year old Zimbabwe’s physiotherapist Precious Madzimbe has written a book on pediaphysio therapy, becoming the first black Zimbabwean after independence to author such a specialised medical book.
Madzimbe who is a specialist in pediatric physiotherapy said he decided to pen the book after realizing that there were no local authors who have written the subject, a development which had resulted in training institutions relying on foreign books which are far divorced from the African context.
“I specialized in pediatric physiotherapy at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Then after completing my studies that is when I realised that back home there is no local book which is written locally to address our needs especially in the profession of pediatric physiotherapy,”
“So, I decided to write this book titled Pediatric physiotherapy: patient assessment in the African context which is contextualized into our setting to meet our local needs,” said Madzimbe in an interview.
The physiotherapist said the book will assist both physiotherapist students as well as qualified physiotherapist who are interested in the management of children.
“Most books are difficulty for students to read and understand because most of the examples used in these books are foreign. There are no local examples being used. They are also very expensive because you have to import the books from America and the United Kingdom,” said Madzimbe.
His book is now being sold locally as well as out of the country on Amazon in both soft and hard copies.
A soft book is selling for US$19 while a hard copy is going for US$35.
Madzimbe said he started penning the book in 2018.
“Writing a medical book is difficult than writing a novel because it has to be reviewed. I had to look for external reviewers to review the book so that it can be acceptable to the readers. In Bulawayo I am the only pediatric physiotherapist, so I had to source external reviewers,”
“Fortunately, I managed to contact a professor in pediatrics at the University of Cape Town who came in to do a thorough review of the book,” he said.
The book was also reviewed by a Ghananian physiotherapist.
Madzimbe said he incorporated all the two external examiners’s recommendations in the book.
The young physiotherapist appealed to other young professionals in the medial field to be innovative in whatever they are doing.
“I encourage young persons like myself to be innovative, identify the gaps in any subject that they are interested in. You might be a medical doctor, a pharmacist, or physiotherapist or whatever medical professional that you are in identify the literature gap in your subject area and then try to write in your own local context so that the information can easily get to people. People can easily relate with the examples given to their day to day experiences so that we do not rely on imported books for simple things that we can generate locally,” he said.
Madzimbe is currently in charge of the recently revamped United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) orthopedic hospital which was officially opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday. He also run his own private orthopedic surgery in the city.
“Most pediatric physiotherapists have left the country for greener pastures outside the country. Pediatric physiotherapists are most sought after professionals the world over but the reason why I have not left the country is because I have a passion for our children. Usually children sometimes they are mismanaged because children have unique needs which are different from the ones of adults,” added the physiotherapist.
