Seventh Day church mends bodies, souls

THE Seventh Day Adventist Church has poured $600 000 into a two week initiative to provide free health care services in Chitungwiza.

Running concurrently with the church’s Revelation of Hope Crusades, the health expo which began last Thursday will see locals from different parts of the country converge at Chitungwiza Town centre for free medical consultation and treatment until May 30.

Different special clinics have been set up to cater for the various health care services needed in addition to the dissemination of information on wellness and nutrition.

Chairman of the health expo organising committee, Dr Simba Mwazha said the Seventh Day Adventist church believes in a holistic health approach of ministering to individuals who are stable mentally, socially, emotionally and physically.

“In conjunction with our partners we have set up special clinics to deal with women’s health where they are screened for cervical cancer. The men’s clinic screens for prostate cancer and sexual dysfunctions which happen to be their key concerns.

“There are also clinics for established diabetes mellitus, cardiac conditions, physio-therapy, mental health care, the eye clinic for visual assessments, HIV testing and counselling as well as family planning.

“Going further we have an Under 5 clinic where services on breastfeeding and immunisation are provided. Because dental screening and extractions are also very expensive in this country we have registered an overwhelming response at that clinic,” Dr Mwazha said.

Some of the partners working with the church include ZICHIRE, New Start Centre and PSMI. The church has also set up an addiction free centre to assist individuals struggling with various addictions and require assistance to be free.

“In the lifestyle centre people go through health assessments of their weight, blood sugar levels before they also get information on nutrition and wellness because life is about the choices you make. Our programme has a time for special counselling where all these people who have been diagnosed or treated with various ailments are counselled for stress management and depression.

“You find that some of the individuals with various ailments are very stressed or depressed and so would require special counselling,” added Dr Mwazha.