Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
HEALTH and Child Care Ambassador, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who, a few days ago, donated blankets to all beds in referral hospitals countrywide, has also extended her generosity to the uniformed forces.
Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) received their consignments of blankets to cater for all their hospital beds.
The donation, consisting of thousands of blankets, will ensure that patients have access to warm and comfortable bedding during their stay in hospital. Each bed in the health facilities under the three institutions will receive two blankets.
This landmark gesture, covering the security services, complements Government efforts and ensures that members of the uniformed forces have access to proper bedding, a vital component of quality healthcare.
Dr Mnangagwa’s initiative underscores her commitment to promoting the health and well-being of the nation in her capacity as Health and Child Care Ambassador, inspiring hope throughout Zimbabwe’s health sector.
Her recent donation of major consignments of medical equipment and supplies to public hospitals further highlights her hands-on approach in addressing the real needs of patients and healthcare workers.
The First Lady’s gesture under her Angel of Hope Foundation has been widely appreciated by beneficiaries, who described it as a demonstration of her dedication to supporting key institutions and promoting the welfare of those who serve the nation.
ZRP Superintendent Abel Zemba said the force’s Health Services Department, which provides healthcare to serving members, their dependents and pensioners, as well as extending services to the public, was delighted to receive the donation.
“We are very happy to receive donations from the First Lady, who is also the Health Ambassador. This support will go a long way in assisting our hospitals and clinics across the country.
“We have witnessed the First Lady making donations to other health facilities, but today it is our turn. We are truly grateful for this kind and generous gesture,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Major Priscillah Makamba also expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her continued support and generosity.
“On behalf of the Zimbabwe National Army, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to our mother, the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for her kind and thoughtful gesture,” she said.
“As the ZNA, we have several health facilities across the country and for all our beds, each will get two blankets.”
Major Makamba added: “We feel embraced and loved. The First Lady never tires of doing good things.
“She has already done so much for us, yet she continues to do even more. We thank you, First Lady, for this wonderful work.”
ZPCS Health Services Administrator, Apco Ntonga, expressed deep appreciation for the First Lady’s generosity and compassion.
“We are grateful for the love shown to us by our First Lady. We are delighted by the donation she has made to our prisons for use in our hospitals. This is a wonderful gesture and we are truly happy.
“Even our inmates will rejoice, knowing that the First Lady cares for them.
“They will feel the presence of a caring mother. We are thankful for such a generous donation,” he said. ZPCS Health Services Administrator, Ntonga, said the donation would be of great benefit to their prisons, as it would strengthen their linen supplies.
“Even if we receive high numbers of inmates, we will now be better equipped, thanks to this thoughtful support from our First Lady,” he said.
Meanwhile, representatives from provincial and referral hospitals that benefitted from the initiative last week collected their consignments at Natpharm in Harare, expressing gratitude to “Mother Zimbabwe.”
For easier transportation, hospitals from the Southern region, covering Bulawayo and Matabeleland provinces, are collecting their allocations from Natpharm in Bulawayo.
At Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, Matron Beaulah Gudyanga said this was a welcome development considering the cold weather in the eastern highlands.
“We are very happy to receive this generous gesture of blankets for our patients, especially considering the cold weather in Mutare.
“When we inform our patients, they will be overjoyed. This shows that she truly is a mother of the nation.”
Gweru Provincial Hospital’s Matron Tinashe Matanda also thanked the First Lady for the generous gift.
“We have been comforted and now have something to assist the patients we serve. Our patients will greatly benefit in line with the Second Republic’s thrust, which understands the importance of the health sector.
“This is not the first donation; just recently, we benefited from theatres and supplies for all our departments. This donation will be put to good use,” he said.
Kwekwe General Hospital’s Nelson Marumura also thanked the First Lady for the donations.
“At Kwekwe, we are a 300-bed hospital, and all beds have now been covered with two blankets per bed. We can now provide linen effectively for all our patients. We have also benefited from other donations previously, thanks to efforts from our First Lady.”
Bindura Provincial Hospital’s Laucas Maswaure also lauded the Health and Child Care Ambassador.
“We thank our First Lady for these blankets. We have faced challenges in providing adequate blankets, and these are greatly needed as they offer comfort and warmth.
“We have received enough to cover all 120 beds, with each bed receiving two blankets,” she said.
Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital’s Matron Mary Tatsira said: “We are very happy to once again receive donations of blankets for our patients. Recently, we also received medical equipment and consumables for all our departments, which is making a significant impact across our hospital.”
From Marondera Provincial Hospital, Sister Leona Mandipira said, “We are grateful to our First Lady for remembering us. We now have adequate bedding, with each hospital bed provided with two blankets.”
