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Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research - International activities and collaborations

ZimHealth

Zimbabwe Network for Health - Europe

ZimHealth

http://zimhealth.org/

THE ZIMBABWE NETWORK FOR HEALTH in Europe (ZimHealth-Europe) is a non-governmental, non-profit association established by Zimbabweans living in Europe to mobilize financial, material and human resources to support health services in Zimbabwe. ZimHealth, as a registered association in Geneva, seeks to raise funds to procure and distribute medicines, diagnostics, vaccines and other commodities to rehabilitate the health facilities in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's once robust health-care services have declined in recent years, exacerbated by the AIDS epidemic, a serious economic crisis and the considerable exodus of skilled personnel including doctors and nurses.

In 2005, following an article in the media about the state of disrepair of Harare Hospital, a referral and teaching hospital in the capital city of Zimbabwe, many health-care providers, doctors, nurses and beneficiaries of the institution were very perturbed and moved to take action. In Switzerland, a group of Zimbabweans initiated discussions via e-mail about what they could do to assist in refurbishing Harare Hospital and other health facilities back home. From these discussions it became evident that Zimbabweans in the Diaspora were very keen and willing to help bring back the hospital to a functional status.

Initially, a small group of Zimbabweans in Switzerland agreed to contribute an initial amount of 500 Swiss francs each, followed by a commitment of 100 Swiss francs per month into a named account, later to become the ZimHealth account. That was the beginning of the Zimbabwe Network for Health (ZimHealth). Other similar associations have been established in Botswana, Namibia and Uganda. One of the founding members of ZimHealth-Europe has since moved to the United States of America and established and registered a similar charity in America in February 2008.

The Vision of ZimHealth is that of an apolitical network of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, and Friends of Zimbabwe, that links Zimbabweans, benefactors and beneficiaries towards a Zimbabwe in which quality health services are easily accessible to all Zimbabweans. The key objectives of this network can be summarised as follows.

  1. Inform, educate and communicate the status and the needs of the Zimbabwe public health delivery system to all Zimbabweans in Switzerland and the rest of Europe and to the European public.
  2. Raise funds and other materials from individuals in Switzerland and the rest of Europe and from private corporations and international, multi-lateral and bilateral agencies.
  3. Distribute equitably funds and materials to health services in all provinces and districts of Zimbabwe, as far as resources allow.

Collaboration between the public and private sector has always been the engine of economic and social development in Zimbabwe. ZimHealth-Europe unites Zimbabweans from all walks of life in order to mobilize resources which are urgently required to revive and sustain health services in Zimbabwe.

All funds raised are used to procure equipment, medicines and other supplies needed by health facilities owned by government, religious organizations and local authorities in Zimbabwe. Members of ZimHealth and its Executive Committee work on a voluntary basis to achieve the goal of the Association. ZimHealth-Europe believes that all the health facilities supported by ZimHealth will treat all Zimbabweans irrespective of their political, religious, cultural and social background.

ZimHealth-Europe has recently delivered consignments of clinical materials and other equipment for clinic clients and health-care providers to the Edith Opperman Maternity Hospital in Mbare, Harare and to Pelandaba Clinic in Bulawayo. Donations that have enabled the procurements have come from Zimbabweans in Switzerland, the United States of America, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Geneva City Authorities and friends of Zimbabwe predominantly in Switzerland. A sample of materials delivered to Mbare can be viewed on the ZimHealth Gallery page on the website. For more information about the Zimbabwe Network for Health and its projects and aspirations, please visit the website at http://zimhealth.org/.