Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
THE Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s Prisons and Hospital Outreach Reintegration Association (PHORA) is partnering with the Government at Marondera Hospital and Marondera Correctional Institution to reintegrate patients and inmates through donations, health education and spiritual support.
The initiative targets people who often serve their time or receive treatment without visits from relatives, giving them renewed hope and a pathway back into society.
Speaking on the outreach recently, PHORA founder Pastor Rangarirayi Matache said the programme is rooted in scripture that instructs believers to visit the sick and the imprisoned.
He noted that many in these institutions face isolation with no one checking on them.
“So in verse 36 he says: ”I was sick, and I was in hospital, and I was in prison, and you visited me.””
“When we visit such people, we give them hope, and we not only tell them about a Jesus who can heal them physically, but we also speak about spiritual healing,” he said.
SDA PHORA Department director Dr Desire Sibanda said the outreach has already recorded a strong response from inmates.
He noted that close to 100 expressed a wish to be baptised after a recent sermon at the institution.
“We are also donating books, Bibles, and obviously some goodies for them. After the sermon by the pastor, we had close to about 100 inmates wishing to be baptised, and we thank God for that,” said Dr Sibanda.
SDA PHORA Department board member Mrs Eunice Manhoko said the programme also addresses physical health needs.
She also noted lessons on hypertension and medication adherence forming part of the visits to patients and inmates.
“We also touched on hypertension to teach the people about what they should be eating, and when they are taking medication, what they should be doing,” she said.
“When they get antibiotics, they should complete their courses; they are supposed to take their drugs correctly.”
