Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
FIRST Mutual Health has donated maternity hampers to 36 new mothers at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, targeting women who arrive for emergency deliveries without essential supplies for their new-borns.
The donation, made on Tuesday under the organisation’s MomCare corporate social responsibility programme, seeks to assist mothers referred from other districts, who often have little time to prepare for childbirth.
Acting maternity sister-in-charge, Sister Sandra Majoni, said most maternity cases at the hospital involves emergency referrals, leaving some women without basic baby-care necessities.
“As a referral hospital, most of the maternity cases we receive are emergency referrals from other districts. These women often arrive unprepared, so the donation means a lot to both the mothers and the hospital,” she said, adding that the hampers will help beneficiaries meet some of their immediate needs after delivery.
Among the recipients was Mrs Rejoice Mapfundidze from Sakubva, who delivered twins despite having prepared for only one baby.
“I have just given birth to twins, a girl and a boy, and I was not prepared for the additional clothes and other essentials they would need. I already have two other children, so this has brought additional financial and practical demands on my family. I am happy because I can now cater for both babies. First Mutual Health has come through for us,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Esnath Musara, from Chikanga, thanked the organisation for extending its support beyond childbirth.
She said some mothers had previously benefited from its free prenatal services.
“We would like to thank them because this is not the first time they have provided services to us as expectant and new mothers,” she said.
First Mutual Health business development manager, Mr Daniel Chipangura, said MomCare was designed to support mothers and new-borns through practical assistance.
“MomCare is an initiative we have introduced to give back to communities, particularly new mothers. We provide hampers containing various baby-care products to help them as they leave hospital,” he said.
The hampers contain nappies, baby clothes, weighing bags and baby bags, among other essentials.
Mr Chipangura said the organisation selected Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital because of its role as a major referral institution in Manicaland and its existing relationship with First Mutual Health.
He said the programme had also reached Gweru and Bulawayo, with Harare next on the organisation’s expansion plans.
First Mutual Holdings Limited group marketing and brands specialist, Mr Tashinga Gomera, said MomCare extended the group’s healthcare philosophy beyond medical aid cover and payment of medical expenses.
He said the programme complemented the group’s First Things First campaign, which promotes its healthcare brand promise, “The Way Healthcare Should Feel”.
“Healthcare support should go beyond medical aid transactions and paying for medical services. We want communities to understand that First Mutual Health cares about their broader healthcare needs,” he said.
Mr Gomera said the organisation planned to expand MomCare to more communities, including rural districts.
“This is a long-term programme. We are looking at different areas as we plan our next phase, including rural districts. This is our starting point, and we intend to expand from here,” he said.
