Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
Senior Reporter
IN a display of corporate social responsibility, leading supermarket chain TM Pick n Pay has donated 500 blankets to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to cushion patients against the winter chill, reinforcing the private sector’s growing role in bolstering the nation’s public health infrastructure.
TM Pick n Pay chief finance officer, Mr Gamuchirai Nyamuzinga, described the donation as a “critical social investment” that goes beyond mere logistics to touch the very core of patient dignity and recovery.
The handover ceremony, was held at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals yesterday.
“Clinical care needs comfort. You can have the best doctors and the best medicine, but if a patient is freezing in a ward during a July cold snap, their recovery is compromised,” said Mr Nyamuzinga.
He said the gesture was designed to restore not only physical warmth, but also the psychological reassurance that patients and their families desperately need during hospitalisation.
“These 500 blankets are about providing immediate physical warmth, but more importantly, they are about dignity. When a patient walks into Parirenyatwa Hospital, they should feel cared for by the community outside these walls.’
Mr Nyamuzinga paid tribute to the company’s loyal customers, whose daily patronage makes such initiatives possible, describing the donation as a tangible act of community solidarity in the face of harsh seasonal conditions.
“Our customers support us daily, and this is our direct way of wrapping our arms around the most vulnerable when the weather gets harsh. A massive thank you to the staff at Parirenyatwa,” he said.
He commended the hospital’s healthcare workers for their unwavering dedication to service delivery “under intense pressure”, expressing hope that the blankets would ease their operational challenges and enhance patient comfort.
“Our promise is that TM Pick n Pay will keep showing up,” Mr Nyamuzinga affirmed.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the hospital, Parirenyatwa clinical director, Dr Tonderai Innocent Mangwiro, said the gesture reinforced a fundamental truth that quality healthcare hinges not only on clinical expertise, but also on compassion and robust partnerships with the private sector.
“While a blanket may seem like a simple item, to a patient it provides warmth, comfort, dignity, and reassurance during what can often be a difficult time,” said Dr Mangwiro.
He expressed appreciation for the enduring relationship between Parirenyatwa and TM Pick n Pay, noting that consistent support strengthened the public health delivery system and enhances patient outcomes.
“As long-time friends to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, your continued support speaks volumes about the relationship we have built over the years. We value this partnership and look forward to its continued growth,” Dr Mangwiro added.
This latest donation is part of a sustained philanthropic drive by TM Pick n Pay, which has been supporting Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals since 2019. To date, the grocery retailer has contributed 15 000 blankets to various health facilities.
Notably, the company donated 750 blankets to Parirenyatwa in 2024 alone. Cumulatively, the retailer has extended its winter relief programme to six hospitals and five care homes across the country, delivering a total of 1 300 blankets to date.
