Online Reporter
Tendai Rupapa-Senior Reporter
LIFE-CHANGING philanthropic work undertaken by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa across many sectors, including health, is being recognised across the globe, with like-minded charity organisations in Australia, keen to provide her with medical equipment to widen her reach.
Even before becoming First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa had been involved in philanthropic work working tooth and nail to introduce empowerment projects for vulnerable communities.
Amai Mnangagwa, who is also the country’s health ambassador, has been extremely supportive in strengthening the country’s efforts to provide quality, affordable and accessible health care services for all.
She is a hard worker, health champion and philanthropist par excellence; her deep passion to assist Zimbabweans runs in her veins.
These efforts saw Medishare Rotary Australia World Community Service and EverX company, which specialise in radiology and diagnostics giving her a hand in her work in her capacity as Angel of Hope Foundation Patron.
The incubators and resuscitators which were donated to Angel of Hope Foundation patron First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa by MediShare Rotary Australia World Community service in Sydney, Australia, yesterday. — Pictures: John Manzongo
EverX gave her state-of the-art ultrasound Siemens machines which come in handy in the early detection of cancer.
Medishare Rotary gave the First Lady a wide range of equipment that included wheelchairs, blood collection items, syringes, colostomy products, mobility aidea, hospital linen, resuscitations, nebulisers, oxygen regulators, specimen containers, glass slides, theatre packs, pipettes, face masks, breathing valves, IV vent valves, mattresses, lifters, lighting, patient commode, gloves and medical training modules among an assortment of medical consumables.
Amai Mnangagwa said the goods will benefit hospitals and clinics countrywide both in rural and urban areas.
She said she sought to have as many people screened, tested and put on treatment to save lives and ensure they are of sound health to work for their families.
A committed mother of the nation with an inborn inclination to serve, the First Lady is also constructing Mother and Child Hospital in Harare as well as Maria Theresa Hospital in Chiweshe through her foundation for the benefit of vulnerable communities.
All these projects demonstrate the First Lady’s love for mankind.
Her efforts and hands-on approach have not gone unnoticed.
Amai Mnangagwa extended an invitation to the companies’ officials to visit Zimbabwe to fully understand what she is doing on the ground.
Medishare Rotary Australia World Community Service National Manager Mr Keith Roffey said they were keen to help to strengthen healthcare systems across the world.
He described the First Lady as an Angel of Hope that is touching lives.
“As our name implies, we share medical equipment with other nations that need these equipments and it helps us to achieve our mission to be able to help and to strengthen other organisations which are in the healthcare.
“We help to strengthen health systems and you yourself as a philanthropist and health ambassador in your country, we are happy to support your vision as you achieve your goal. Your wish is to provide a better life for Zimbabweans especially the less privileged.
Angel of Hope Foundation patron, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Dr Andrew Mataruse, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Mr Joe Tapera Mhishi, Mr Keith Roffey and Mr Machigere look at the incubators and resuscitators which were donated to Angel of Hope Foundation by MediShare Rotary Australia World community service in Australia yesterday
“We are delighted to be part of your vision and we are willing to work with you. Our mission is more similar to yours and we can help strengthen health system and make it better for a lot of people.
“As Medishare World Community Service, we are involved in many projects like building hospitals and orphanages around the world. We try to make the world a better place for all.”
In response, Dr Mnangagwa expressed her gratitude for the goods she received and highlighted that she was also building hospitals in both rural and urban for the benefit of the people.
“My heart is delighted for the warm welcome and reception you extended to me. I stand with immense gratitude and appreciation. The generosity and kindness you have shown to the people of Zimbabwe through the donation of medical goods is truly remarkable. The donation will have a big impact on the lives of countless individuals. You don’t know how many lives you have touched, some of whom you are not going to see, but you have made them to survive. You have brought some life in them. The medical goods you have donated will enable our healthcare professionals to deliver quality care, saving lives and improving health outcomes. Your commitment to saving humanity is inspiring, and we are deeply thankful for your partnership,” she said.
What made her think about Rotary Club, the First Lady said, is what she sees among people in both rural and urban areas.
“We need help for our people to live the life that is expected of everyone to be in. In my capacity, I deal with mostly disadvantaged people that is women, children, the aged, the sick, the disabled among many other groups. As a mother, I shoulder all that, because I traverse the whole country and I know their needs.
“My visit here and meeting with you will lessen the burden. Yes our Government is doing everything possible, but as a mother, as the health ambassador and philanthropist, I play my part to compliment the Government. That is what has also brought me here and also meeting with you. To me it is very important and it means a lot for the people of Zimbabwe. I hope that today is not the beginning and end of our joining hands for the benefit of philanthropic work in the health sector,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said she will be grateful to continue working with the Rotary Club for the benefit of the less privileged and marginalised members of this society.
“I therefore look forward to our continued cooperation through the embassy of Zimbabwe in Australia. Once again, I want to thank you for your kindness, compassion, and dedication to making medical care accessible to many back in Zimbabwe. Your donations will have a positive impact. You are indeed a shining example of the power of community service,” she said.
EverX’s donation attests to how the First Lady’s philanthropic and life-changing works have been embraced the world over.
The equipment will go a long way in assisting the mother of the nation to achieve her vision given that it can assist in early detection and diagnosis of surging cases of cancer in Zimbabwe.
EverX managing director Mr Ravinder Bindra expressed delight in presenting the machines to Angel of Hope Foundation through its Patron the First Lady also pointing out that he was impressed by the work she is doing in Zimbabwe especially in the health sector.
“The First Lady, it is so nice to have you here and we would like to thank you for your hard work. We are impressed by the incredible work you are doing in Zimbabwe. Healthcare is the foundation of any country. We have seen the impressive hospital you are building, the mother and child hospital. You really understand the needs of women and children. We are willing to work with you and help you so that you fulfil your vision,” he said.
Mr Bindra said his company wished to associate with the hospital for women and children which the First Lady is constructing through her AoHF.
His company, he said, also sought to provide low-cost medical equipment, for the benefit of developing nations which was important for the benefit of millions of patients.
She gave a glimpse into the idea behind the drive to have people screened especially for cancer.
“For parents to be able to look after their children, they should be healthy. I am taking the medical outreach programmes seriously and encouraging people to embrace the programme and utilise the services offered for free because prevention is better than cure. People should be checked to know their health status and i am happy people come out in their numbers during the outreach,” she said.
In her acceptance speech, Dr Mnangagwa said she was overjoyed by the gesture.
“This remarkable gesture is not just a donation, it is a testament to the power of global solidarity and the shared commitment to improving the lives of women and children, not only in Zimbabwe but across the world.
These ultrasound machines will play a pivotal role in Zimbabwe. Let me also say through my foundation and its partners, i am building a Mother and Child hospital in Harare which is nearing completion. I am also bulding another hospital in the rural area,” she said.
She said the hospitals will be a beacon of hope, a place where every woman and child can access world-class healthcare services, regardless of their background or circumstances.
“What drove me to build them is that i looked at the lives of people in rural areas, they do need assistance. I then thought of coming up with a one-stop health care center mainly targeting the less priviledged. The donation from EverX brings us one step closer to realizing this dream, and for that, I am deeply thankful,” she said. .
The donation, she said, was not just a gift of medical equipment, but a gift of life, hope, and opportunity for countless women and children who will benefit from these machines.
Dr Mnangagwa is always traversing the length and breadth of Zimbabwe with her foundation’s mobile hospital and clinic offering cancer screening services even in hard to reach areas.
Dr Andrew Mataruse, who is part of the First Lady’s delegation highlighted the benefits of the state-of-the-art machinery to the nation.
“From the perspective of the First Lady’s vision of having a children’s hospital and a women’s hospital the advanced ultra sound scans from EverX will assist us particularly in maternity, assessment of fetal growth, assessment of complications.
“Sometimes we have pregnancies that are complicated where there are actually damages which are occurring to the fetus so a good quality ultrasound scan can be able to determine fetal health, so that is a very important component that we can use in terms of women’s health. It is also important to appreciate that ultrasound scans can be used for many diagnostic evaluations whether of the pregnancy, whether of the abdomen, whether of the chest.
“We are also going to get more benefit in assessment in terms of breast cancer, assessment in terms of maternity health, particularly in terms of obstetric assessment of the children. The assistance we received from Medishare will help unlock improved health services for our people.
“These donations give us a deeper sense of belonging and the need to assist those in need wherever possible,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Mr Joe Tapera Mhishi described the First Lady as a well-established philanthropist.
“It is against this background that she has travelled all the way from Zimbabwe to Australia to receive these medical equipments thus, finding best ways of supporting the health sector back home. We thank you for the donations,” he said
