Caleb Shoko Trainee Journalist- Journalism & Media Studies-NUST
“On behalf of the Rastafari community we feel so much honoured to be partnering with Chitungwiza Central Hospital. We adopted ward 3 male surgical ward in 2011.”
RASTAFARI COMMUNITY VISITED Chitungwiza Central Hospital recently to fulfil the partnership which was established in 2011 under the auspices of Sick Be Nourished Project (SBNP) whose drive is to extend its helping hand to the sick under the theme ”….let the hungry be fed, the naked clothed, the sick be nourished , aged protected and infants cared for”
Sick Be Nourished Project ( SBNP) is a UK based charity organisation which is being run by Rastafarian community. The director and founder of the organisation is Sister Empress Zauditu, a surgical practitioner who formed the organisation as a result of losing her beloved sister during child birth due to lack of resources at their community hospital. Following the passing on of her sister she had to attend to the newly born baby. (www.sickbenourished.org)
According to Zauditu, their organisation is based on identifying areas where medical and surgical resources are lacking following statistical evidence in life morbidity and mortality rates affecting African countries. It was through this vein that they partnered with CCH in a bid to donate medical and surgical resources to help the less privileged.
“On behalf of the Rastafari community we feel so much honoured to be partnering with Chitungwiza Central Hospital. We adopted ward 3 male surgical ward in 2011. Today we are donating surgical equipment for ward 3. We will continue to support ward 3 in cash and kind.” said Zauditu.
The partnership between CCH and SBNP was established in 2011 when the organisation adopted ward 3. A certificate of appreciation was handed over to Dr Obadiah Moyo CCH CEO to cement the relationship in 2011 at a local hotel in Harare.
On arrival at the institution the Rastafarians were taken on a hospital tour which was led by Dr. Moyo They hailed CCH for the developments they saw at the hospital.
Sister Zaiditu handed over the donation to Dr. Moyo. The donation they handed over consisted of blood specimen bottles, disposable toniquates, blood pressure monitoring machines and other surgicals. The estimated cost of goods donated was about 200 pounds.($300 )
SBNP director said they have introduced a new product of ‘Clinic in a box’. She said will bring CCH “clinic in a box” early next year. She went on to say that clinic in a box is designed to be utilised in the creation of makeshift clinical facilities practically anywhere. The contents contain the initial equipment needed to allow practitioners to carry out mobile primary healthcare checks within their villages and communities. She said the clinic in a box is ideal in resource limited settings where clinics are far away where patients have to travel long distances to access health care.
Sister Zauditu came in the company of sister Chipo Sibanda a Zimbabwean based in UK, Sir Abunah Bundumali from Jamaica now based in Zimbabwe and local Rastafarian group which comprises of members from different houses (congregations): which are Chaminuka based in Chitungwiza, Dzimbadzamabwe form Harare and Marondera Niabingi.
The delegation was welcomed by Dr Moyo and the Clinical Director Dr. Patrick Dhliwayo who hailed the perpetuation of the relationship and donations from the group.
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| Empress Zauditu with Dr.O.Moyo during a hospital tour with other Rastafarians |
“It is a noble gesture to see partners who come from overseas to remember the socially disadvantaged in African societies. Your donation will go a long way in improving and serving lives. I say the relationship we have should continue to exist” said Dr. Moyo
Sir Bundumali the spokesperson of the National Rastafari Niabingi said the majority of citizens will benefit from the clinic in a box project as it will equip the citizens with the knowledge of better practises to healthier life.
“It is our wish as the local Rastafarian community to be given an opportunity to work hand in hand with the hospital in training and mobilizing resources aimed at improving healthcare. Our wish as Rastafaris is to donate in cash and kind,” said Sir Bundumali.
Mrs. A. Tasaranarwo CCH P.R.O explained and explored services offered by the hospital and also took the guests on a tour to the radiology department. They were thrilled by seeing the CT scan machine which was not there at the hospital when they came in 2011.
The guests applauded the hospitality offered to them by the hospital CEO and staff they promised to return early next year.
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