Blessings Chidakwa, Senior Reporter
FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has hailed an enduring partnership between the Angel of Hope Foundation and United States-based Zimbabwe Care, saying their joint efforts have brought quality healthcare closer to communities while leaving a lasting impact on the lives of over 10 000 people.
Dr Mnangagwa also reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening partnerships that expand access to quality healthcare and improve the well-being of communities across the country.
She made the remarks on Tuesday night when she hosted a special dinner at Zimbabwe House in honour of Zimbabwe Care, a team of medical doctors and specialists from the United States who partnered the Angel of Hope Foundation during a week-long medical outreach in Masvingo.
The programme brought specialised healthcare services closer to communities across the province, with Zimbabwe Care working alongside local health personnel to provide a wide range of free medical services.
Dinner provided an opportunity to celebrate the fruitful partnership in a warm and convivial atmosphere, with guests embracing Zimbabwean hospitality and enjoying an array of dishes showcasing the country’s rich gastronomy.
The atmosphere grew even more lively as classic Western tunes gave way to some of Zimbabwe’s finest local music, with guests calling for more and enthusiastically taking to the dance floor.
The evening captured the warmth of the relationship, bringing together friendship, culture and a shared commitment to serving communities.
It also provided an opportunity to showcase Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage, with Dr Mnangagwa, who is also the Tourism and Hospitality Patron, presenting the visiting team with national fabric featuring the Great Zimbabwe chevron, Mapfura wine made from indigenous berries and a handcrafted beaded cup made by local women.
A Zimbabwe tourism map was also presented to the visitors, offering them a glimpse of the country’s diverse heritage, tourist attractions and tourism potential.
In her address, Dr Mnangagwa, who is also the country’s Health and Child Care Ambassador, conveyed a warm welcome from His Excellency, President Dr Mnangagwa, to the medical team.
She commended the medical professionals for dedicating their time, expertise and resources to supporting communities in need, saying their contribution was helping bring essential healthcare services closer to the people.
“Tonight, we stand at a meaningful milestone because, since 2018, when the Angel of Hope
Foundation was established, you became one of our very first partners. You have visited Zimbabwe not only once, but continuously over the years for much-needed medical outreaches in various provinces, easing access to quality healthcare for those who needed it,”said the First Lady.
“Over the past eight years, this journey has grown into a powerful movement of international and local solidarity. You dedicated your time, skill and hearts to saving our people. Through your selfless work during this medical outreach, lives have been saved, pain has been relieved and families have been given a second chance.”
Dr Mnangagwa said the programme demonstrated the value of partnerships in improving access to healthcare.
“You demonstrated the true spirit of Ubuntu, reminding us that I am because we are,” she said.
“This medical outreach was not just a temporary intervention, but evidence of what we can achieve when international partnership joins hands with local commitment.”
Dr Mnangagwa said the Angel of Hope Foundation will continue strengthening its partnership with Zimbabwe Care as it expands its programmes across the country.
“The Angel of Hope Foundation remains deeply committed to nurturing this bond as we continue to expand our reach across Zimbabwe,” she said.
“May our relationship continue to deepen, and may our collaborative efforts grow from strength to strength as we work for the good of our people.”
Dr Mnangagwa said the visiting medical professionals had left a lasting impact on the communities they served.
“As we enjoy this evening together, let us reflect on the lives transformed over these past few days,” she said.
“To our foreign doctors, as you prepare to return home, know that you leave behind footprints of love in our communities and in our country, and you will always have a home in Zimbabwe.”
Dr Mnangagwa thanked the doctors and specialists for donating medical supplies and other essential items to beneficiaries during the outreach.
“On behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Angel of Hope Foundation and every family you touched, I say thank you,” she said.
“I would like to express my appreciation for the medical accessories as well as medication, bedding, clothing, stationery, toys, newborn kits, school kits and hygiene kits, to mention just a few of the items which you donated as an act of love to our people.”
Dr Mnangagwa said elderly beneficiaries also received assistive equipment.
“Our elderly got the much-needed equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, as well as crutches,” she said.
The First Lady also commended Zimbabwean doctors, nurses, pharmacists and community health workers who worked alongside their visiting counterparts during the programme.
“Equally, my heartfelt gratitude goes to our Zimbabwean medical professionals, our local doctors, nurses, pharmacists and community health workers who worked tirelessly alongside our international doctors, bridging language and cultural barriers with grace, warmth and unmatched professional skill day after day,” she said.
Zimbabwe Care president Mr Eric Rose praised its growing partnership with the Angel of Hope Foundation, saying the organisation’s warm reception in Zimbabwe had encouraged his team to return and expand its humanitarian work.
He said the relationship, which began in 2018, had grown significantly, with Zimbabwe Care bringing 40 medical professionals to Zimbabwe for this year’s week-long medical outreach in Masvingo.
Mr Rose said the partnership had also inspired the organisation to expand its work and return regularly to support communities across the country.
“In 2019, I asked you a question. It was, ‘You know what I love most about Zimbabwe? Everything.’ Everything.
“You can see the work continues to grow on both sides. And it’s not just the work that we have done, thank you, but the work that you have inspired us to do,” he said.
Mr Rose expressed gratitude to the First Lady for the warm welcome extended to the team during its stay in Zimbabwe.
“I remember the call that we got the first time in 2018 to come and help and partner with Angel of Hope Foundation, and the ability that has given us to grow. I think that year we were maybe 12 people. We have grown each year. We are 40 people this year.
“So thank you very much for your partnership, for welcoming us into your country and for partnering with us. I thank you for giving us the chance to do it. We look forward to coming back.”
Mr Rose said Zimbabwe Care particularly valued working alongside Zimbabwean ministers, doctors, nurses and other health professionals who remained at outreach sites until patients had received the care they needed.
“The thing that I love the most, again, is your people, everything, but working side by side with ministers, secretaries, doctors and nurses who didn’t leave, who stayed until we saw those patients,” he said.
He thanked Dr Mnangagwa for giving the organisation the opportunity to serve communities through the partnership.
Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said initiatives championed by Dr Mnangagwa were helping to widen access to quality healthcare services.
“Through the Angel of Hope Foundation and your role as our Health Ambassador, you have consistently brought Government, partners, medical professionals and communities together around one common purpose: improving the lives of our people,” he said.
Dr Maunganidze said medical outreaches were important because they took healthcare services closer to communities that often had to travel long distances for treatment.
“An outreach does not replace the health system; it extends the reach of the health system,” he said.
He said the partnership between the Angel of Hope Foundation, Zimbabwe Care and the Ministry of Health and Child Care was demonstrating the value of collaboration in improving access to healthcare.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Chief Director for Human Resources and Training Ambassador Rofina Chikava commended the First Lady for expanding access to healthcare through her initiatives.
She also praised the visiting US medical specialists and doctors for supporting the week-long medical outreach in Masvingo, saying their contribution had brought specialist healthcare services closer to communities.
“We cannot talk about the health of our nation without mentioning the contribution by our First Lady,” she said.
Ambassador Chikava said the First Lady’s mobile hospital and clinic were helping communities access specialist services, including screening for cancer, hypertension and diabetes.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade applauds Her Excellency Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and the Angel of Hope Foundation for availing the mobile hospital and mobile clinic to the masses of Zimbabwe,” she said.
During the week-long outreach in Masvingo, communities accessed a comprehensive range of free medical services, including cancer screening, dental care, mental health support, HIV testing and eye examinations.
Services were provided through the Angel of Hope Foundation, in partnership with Zimbabwe Care and local medical practitioners.
The programme is part of Dr Mnangagwa’s continued efforts to complement Government’s health delivery programmes by taking specialised services closer to communities, particularly those facing barriers to accessing such care.
The Angel of Hope Foundation and Zimbabwe Care have progressively expanded their partnership, with the scale and scope of their medical outreaches growing significantly.
A similar outreach was held in Kotwa two years ago, where thousands of patients also received various services, including prostate screening, mammography, eye consultations and physician services.
