Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]
Higherlife Foundation yesterday donated hospital equipment worth US$200,000 to Mpilo Central Hospital’s maternal ward in Bulawayo.
The donation included multi-parameter monitors, mechanical ventilators, phototherapy machines, incubators, resuscitators, infusion pumps, suction machines, bilirubinometers, biochemistry machines, and manual vacuum kits.
Higherlife Foundation, founded by Zimbabwean billionaire and Econet founder Dr Strive Masiyiwa and his wife, Tsitsi, in 1996 out of their deep Christian faith, has played a key role in humanitarian assistance, inspired by the couple’s compassion and personal experiences of orphanhood.
The donation is expected to help improve maternal ward services and ensure the continued provision of high-quality healthcare.
Higherlife Foundation Zimbabwe country director, Mr Philani Nyatsanza, said they were pleased to increase the number of equipment donations this year.
He said it is their dream to end maternal deaths, and they are confident that this support will contribute significantly towards that goal.
“We are happy that this year we managed to do this much just here at Mpilo. We are also going to be visiting United Bulawayo Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Hospital, and Parirenyatwa Hospital as part of our initiative,” said Mr Nyatsanza.
He added that Higherlife believes investing in babies is crucial, as it helps to improve the country’s future.
Mr Nyatsanza expressed hope that they would continue carrying out more initiatives like this in the future.
“It makes us happy to be able to support such initiatives. The foundation has always been about giving back to the community, and we are pleased that we have managed to do so,” he said.
Mpilo Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narcisius Dzvanga, said they were delighted to receive such modern equipment, which will assist in the fight against maternal deaths.
He noted that such donations highlight the importance of public-private partnerships and will go a long way in bridging the gap faced by public hospitals.
“We are very excited about the equipment we have received and will be putting it to use very soon. It will be very useful for our maternal and paediatrics wards. We hope to continue forming such partnerships, as they are instrumental in helping us address the challenges we face,” said Dr Dzvanga.
Online Reporter