Zimbabwe Shipping

Shipping of Medical Supplies and Equipment (GHM Project #88-S0000)  In collaboration with the ELCA Global Mission Unit, responding to the desperate appeal from the Lutheran hospitals of this troubled country.  Three annual shipments are being made.  Goal: $15,700

GHM Shipment is Good News to Troubled Zimbabwe

by Scott Lien

I had the privilege of visiting Zimbabwe September 14-24, 2009 with Rev. Benyam Kassahun, ELCA Global Mission Director for Southern Africa. A GHM shipment had just arrived, and we wanted to assess how it was received and distributed. Were the four hospitals of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) (Mnene, Musume, Manama, and Masase) using the supplies, equipment, and furnishings from GHM? The short answer is a resounding YES! and additional support is needed.

Zimbabwe is facing a severe crisis, with a cumulative 50% decline in GDP over the last decade and a world record hyperinflation of over 231 million percent. All other countries in Southern African have averaged 6% growth over the same period. Over 85% of the population is unemployed, and 90% are subsisting below the poverty level. More than 15% of the adult population is infected with HIV/AIDS, and 3,500 people are dying weekly as a result of related illnesses. Life expectancy is lowest in the world (34 years for men, 32 for women). And there is growing concern that the power-sharing government will collapse resulting in renewed civil and political unrest.

Despite the dark clouds, the ELCZ continues to proclaim the Good News, to heal and care for the sick, to take care of orphans, and to train new health care professionals. In addition to its hospitals, the ELCZ operates a Nursing School at Mnene, two home-based/orphan care centers at Musume (Betseranai) and Manama (Thusanang), a number of primary and secondary schools, along with sharing a theological seminary. Although the ELCZ is small, it is growing and contributes much to the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe.

We met presiding Bishop Naison Shava, General Secretary Mr. M. M. Dube, Health Services Coordinator Mr. Philip Ndlovu, and many others. Mr. Dube shared that staff appreciated how we used colored tape and assign stickers for each hospital, and included a separate packing list for each so as to check the items off while unloading. The empty 40’ container will be used as a future cyber café in a rural area, an INFOHUT, where young IT professionals would teach students computer skills and life skills with the idea of reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

                                                                      Unloading Begins at the ELCZ Office

During our visits to the hospitals, we passed through each department and heard the staff tell us how important it was to receive these urgently needed items, such as gloves, dressings, syringes, needles, IV catheters, Foley catheters, disinfectant solution, bedding, and more. The supplies were well-organized in the storerooms, with labels facing out and stock cards recording type of item and quantity. Some items shipped, however, such as electrocautrey pens, were not immediately useful because staff lacked training to use them.

Dr. Mary Muchekeza expressed frustration with the current surgical table at Mnene, how it frequently drops during surgery because of a leaky hydraulic seal. The overhead surgical light is not working well either; instead, a standard floodlight is hanging down to provide light during surgery. Priority is to replace both, along with an anesthesia gas machine, infant resuscitation table, ultrasound, portable x-ray, oxygen concentrator, patient gurneys, and more.

                                      Mnene Surgery in Need of Renovation

The School of Nursing at Mnene offers three levels of education with a certificate of primary nursing upongraduation. A total of 62 students are currently enrolled. Mrs. Whitness Chibarabada showed us the classrooms and library, and highlighted current needs such as anatomical models for teaching (breast, skeleton, torso, infant delivery, ear, eye, deluxe pelvis model), basic charts, and standard nursing and midwife textbooks.

Next to Musume, Betseranai Home-Based/Orphan Care Center works closely with hospital staff and community leaders to address the need for outreach and home-based care for patients living with HIV/AIDS (around 1,100), and to take care of nearly 4,000 children in the surrounding area left orphaned as a result of the pandemic. Here, the staff appealed for GHM hospice kits.

A highlight at Manama Hospital was seeing an olive-green Toyota Land Cruiser, "ambulance" painted on both sides, a project supported by GHM in 2000 and hearing from the staff that it is still in great working condition. At all four hospitals, we received requests for GHM midwife kits! Most mothers arrive with few supplies for their newborn, The midwife kits, or mother’s kits as the staff referred to them, which contained a hat, shirt, and blanket, are ideal and are used in the delivery of babies.

       Women at Musume Hospital Gratefully Receive GHM Midwife Kits from Recent Shipment

At the close of our visits, we learned that communication between the hospitals and the Church Head Office in Bulawayo is a major problem. Safe water and reliable electricity are major problems as well. Outdated and dangerous electrical wiring in all four hospitals needs to be replaced soon.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. The needs are overwhelming, but the opportunities to partner are great. GHM has an amazing opportunity to partner with the ELCA, Church of Sweden and others, to enhance the healing ministry of the ELCZ, and to continue sending shipments of urgently needed medical supplies, equipment, furnishings, hospice and midwife kits. Please donate generously to Project #88XX-S0001: Zimbabwe Shipping.