Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
HEALTHCARE delivery in Zimbabwe is receiving another major boost as Health and Child Care Ambassador, the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, continues to mobilise support for public hospitals through her Angel of Hope Foundation.
The latest intervention is seeing public health institutions receive modern hospital beds, specialised medical equipment and other essential resources to strengthen service delivery and improve conditions for patients and health workers.
The intervention is being rolled out across the country’s major central hospitals, including Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Chitungwiza Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital among several others.
For logistical purposes, consignments destined for hospitals in the Matabeleland region were collectively collected by other health institutions for onward distribution to the respective hospitals.
Under the patronage of Dr Mnangagwa, the Angel of Hope Foundation has also expressed profound appreciation to its global philanthropic partners for their continued support towards its mission of assisting communities and individuals in need across Zimbabwe.
The foundation said several Australian-based philanthropic organisations and health institutions had, over the past two years, provided new medical and rehabilitation equipment, medical consumables, protective wear and bed linen for use in Zimbabwe.
“The Angel of Hope Foundation extends its profound appreciation to all its global philanthropic partners who have contributed and continue to contribute towards its mission of helping communities and individuals in need of help across Zimbabwe,” the foundation said.
“Among these global philanthropic partners are organisations and health institutions in Australia.”
The latest assistance, channelled through the foundation, includes new electric hospital beds, specialised medical equipment and physiotherapy equipment being distributed to public hospitals across the country.
The consignment also includes examination couches, medical trolleys, shower chairs, bedside cabinets and several other essential items.
The nationwide support is part of the First Lady’s efforts to strengthen public health institutions and comes barely a few months after several other donations of life-saving equipment and medical supplies sourced through the Angel of Hope Foundation in partnership with international philanthropic organisations.
The interventions are easing pressure on once overstretched hospital departments, improving the working environment for health professionals and helping patients receive care in more dignified surroundings.
The Australian partners include Medishare, an arm of the Rotary Club of New South Wales; Donations in Kind (DIK), an arm of the Rotary Club of Yarraville in Melbourne; Canberra Central Hospital; Rotary Club of Western Australia in Perth; Northern District Hospital of Melbourne; and Footscray Hospital under Western Health in Victoria.
Footscray Hospital donated medical equipment to Melbourne charity organisation Renstar, which subsequently donated the equipment to the Angel of Hope Foundation for use in Zimbabwe.
The donations are complementing Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the health delivery system by improving access to medical equipment and other essential supplies.
The foundation also praised Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Canberra for facilitating the support through sustained engagement with Australian organisations and health institutions.
“The Angel of Hope Foundation extends its appreciation to Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Canberra, Australia.”
Through its Patron, Dr Mnangagwa, the Angel of Hope Foundation continues to mobilise partnerships and support aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable communities and complementing Government’s efforts in key sectors, including healthcare.
The partnerships demonstrate the growing role of international philanthropy in supporting Zimbabwe’s health sector, with the Angel of Hope Foundation serving as a bridge between donors and communities and institutions requiring assistance.
Representatives of beneficiary hospitals expressed gratitude for the continued assistance, saying it was strengthening service delivery while improving conditions for patients and health workers.
Nurse Sister Tendai Matsvimbo, representing the beneficiary hospitals, said the latest consignment was making a significant difference to healthcare workers and patients.
She said the consignment included modern hospital beds and equipment for various areas of healthcare, including X-ray and eye-care services.
“We received a lot of medical equipment for our hospitals. These include brand-new, state-of-the-art items which will be distributed to hospitals across the country.
“We are very grateful for the support from Dr Mnangagwa through her Angel of Hope Foundation.
This assistance is helping to ensure that patients receive proper care and have a more comfortable environment in which to recover,” she said.
Sister Matsvimbo said hospitals were particularly encouraged by the sustained nature of the assistance, noting that they had previously received essential supplies, including medical equipment and linen.
“What makes this support particularly encouraging is that this is not the first time we have received assistance. On previous occasions, we were provided with other essential items, including medical equipment, supplies and linen,” she said.
“As the Health and Child Care Ambassador, Dr Mnangagwa has been doing a great deal for us. Her ongoing support is making our work much easier.”
At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Principal Nursing Officer Nomazuli Mpande, representing the institution, also welcomed the support, saying it would improve healthcare delivery and the working environment for health personnel.
“We have received several machines, pieces of equipment and hospital beds from our Health and Child Care Ambassador, Dr Mnangagwa. This assistance will make our work easier while also helping us to provide care in a safer and more efficient environment,” she said.
Sister Mpande said the equipment would help health workers provide services more safely and efficiently.
“She has always supported us, and we are grateful that she continues to remember and stand with us,” she said.
Representing Sally Mugabe Hospital, Seraphia Chimombe said the latest equipment would strengthen service delivery across several departments.
“We would like to thank our mother, Dr Mnangagwa, for providing us with high-quality equipment that is helping us to deliver better healthcare to our patients,” she said.
Sister Chimombe said the equipment would enable health workers to attend to more patients efficiently while easing pressure on staff.
“The equipment will benefit various departments and enable us to serve more patients efficiently. It will make our work easier and allow us to attend to more patients in less time,” she said.
A representative from Chitungwiza Hospital, Hazvipere Jamu, said the assistance was particularly appreciated because it formed part of the First Lady’s sustained support rather than being a once-off intervention.
“We thank our First Lady for the support. This is not the first time she has come to our assistance, and we hope she will continue supporting us in this way,” he said.
Mr Jamu said the assistance was contributing to efforts to equip public hospitals with modern facilities and improve the environment in which patients receive treatment.
“She has helped us to equip our hospitals with state-of-the-art facilities and beds, ensuring that patients no longer have to sleep on the floor,” he said.
The continued interventions come as the First Lady, in her role as Health and Child Care Ambassador, complements Government efforts to improve healthcare delivery through support for public health institutions.
For the hospitals, the latest assistance represents more than new equipment and beds.
It is practical support that is helping create better conditions for patients, easing the demanding work of healthcare professionals and strengthening the capacity of public hospitals to provide quality care.
