Support from partners across the United Methodist connection has improved services and infrastructure at church mission hospitals and clinics in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area over the past decade.
All six clinics under the United Methodist Nyadire Mission Hospital were rebuilt at a total cost of over $2 million by The Nyadire Connection, a group of volunteers from Pittsburgh in the Western Pennsylvania Conference, and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
The church facilities were reconstructed to match standards set by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care for rural health facilities. However, the new spacious facilities are now viewed as “hospitals” by those seeking medical attention.
“Patients who have been treated at other clinics sometimes come to our clinic when they are referred to hospitals for specialist attention,” said Belinda Shoko, sister-in-charge of Dindi United Methodist Clinic, which was rebuilt by Global Ministries in 2022.
Patients believe the bigger facilities mean the clinic was upgraded to offer services available at hospitals.
“We have separate rooms for consultations, immunizations, antenatal, postnatal and wards for pediatrics, men and women. We can monitor patients in the wards while waiting for them to be transferred to the district hospital at Mutawatawa,” she said.
Clinic Caters to Expecting Mothers
Dindi Mission clinic offers free services and caters to a population of over 8,000 people from surrounding villages. However, the waiting mothers’ home rarely has any residents. “We handle 15-20 deliveries every month, but very few women reside at the clinic before delivery. Some deliver at home with assistance of traditional midwives or simply turn up at the clinic in labor without having registered or attended antenatal checkups,” Shoko explained.
Waiting mothers’ shelters are a key feature of rural health facilities in Zimbabwe. They are homes where expecting mothers can stay from 36 weeks of pregnancy in order to be within reach of medical attention. This is important for women with high-risk pregnancies whose homes may be far from the health center with poor roads, rugged terrain and no public transport. The shelter at Dindi can accommodate 20 expecting women.
The upgrading of United Methodist clinics has resulted in higher numbers of patients seeking medical treatment.
United Methodist clinics are a strategic partner for the government’s health care programs. Mashambanhaka was designated as a site for admission and treatment of cholera cases. In February, one patient was admitted in the cholera ward.
Mashambanhaka, Dendera, Chikwizo, Nyahuku and Chindenga clinics were rebuilt by The Nyadire Connection over the past decade, with each clinic costing about $350,000. Villagers contributed to the rebuilding of clinics by providing local materials such as stones, sand and water for the construction.
Bel-Air United Methodist Church in the Baltimore-Washington Conference partnered with Old Mutare Hospital to revitalize one of its clinics, Munyarari, located near Mutare.
Mutambara UMC Mission Hospital serves as a referral health facility for the Chimanimani District and won the Baby Friendly Initiative Award in 2015, resulting in its baby-friendly policy being used by the government as a model for the whole country.
Zimbabweans in mission areas also have partnered with the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area, so that it provides better care at its health centers.
Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, who led the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area from 2004 until his retirement in March of this year, presided over the dedication of Chidenga clinic in February.
He touted the partnerships and management of the projects over the years.
“Little did we know that God was leading us to something which was going to be this big and very transformative.”
excerpt from a story by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News correspondent based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
