Path to Health Donates US$350 000 Worth of Medical Equipment to Zimbabwe
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. In a development set to enhance the health delivery system in the country, Rotary Path to Health is dispatching a container with medical equipment worth US$350 000 from Canada.
Rotary Path to Health, an initiative of the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen - part of Rotary International District 5040 in western British Columbia - is headed by a Zimbabwean based in Canada, Kevin Conway, and works with a number of Rotary clubs in Canada and Zimbabwe. Its mission is to provide support for the delivery of primary health care to thousands of Zimbabwe.
“The Path to Health equipment container is leaving Canada with an estimated US$350 000 worth of medical equipment for distribution at Nkulumane, Mvuma Hospital and Gwanda.”
The medical equipment, which includes beds, mattresses, bedding and linen, an operating table, weighing scales, temperature thermometers among others, is destined for three health institutions in the country; Nkulumane Clinic in Bulawayo, Mzimuni Clinic in Gwanda Rural and Mvuma Hospital outside Gweru. Some of the container contents were purchased by generous supporters including Tsawwassen pharmacist and Rotarian Edwin Lee.
In addition to the contents of the container, Path to Health is providing a one year supply of drugs, a starter-kit with scales, blood pressure machines, thermometers, some delivery equipment and other necessary medical equipment to each of the clinics. These suppliesm are made possible by the generous contributions of project supporters in Vancouver,m including Rotarian Rick Lewall and a memorial to the late Rotarian, Dr. Ram Reddy.
“The arrival of the container will take approximately 10weeks so we are expecting it in early May” said Path to Health Country Co-ordinator, Rodney Beadon. “The $10,800 cost of shipping the container from Vancouver, Canada to Bulawayo,m Zimbabwe was covered by generous donations from Path to Health partners including IBM Vancouver and Zimbabwe pharmacist and Rotarian Bright Mushininga.”
A local Civil Society Organisation, Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT), which played a pivotal role in the identification of these health institutions, will be actively involved in distributing the donations and in imparting the necessary know-how of maintaining the equipment.
“We will not only be distributing the equipment but ZDDT is going to be doing training in those areas, providing reporting and accountability skills, so that we have a way of seeing that the equipment is properly looked after and managed correctly,” he said.
On arrival in Bulawayo, the equipment will be unpacked with the help of ZDDT’s Community Action Teams, Rotary clubs in the city and the community at large. A local businessman, Neil Rix, has also donated storage space for the equipment at his secure warehouse before it is dispatched to its final destinations.
“The equipment will arrive at Neil Rix’s secure warehouse. He has donated the space and the use of his 4 tonne truck. We will have to organise a fundraiser to amass funds to meet the local expenses. This is going to be a national fundraiser, bringing in Rotary clubs from Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru and Gwanda and the community as a whole. We want to assure our Canadian counterparts that this donation is going to benefit the intended communities as we are also aiming at dispelling the negative image that Zimbabwe has in Canada,” said Rodney Beadon.
“It is extraordinary to see what can be accomplished when enthusiastic, compassionate individuals work together to apply their skills, energy and resources to alleviate the dire circumstances confronting Zimbabweans” concluded Rodney Beadon.