Key points:
- Chindenga clinic is the fifth health clinic under the United Methodist Nyadire Mission Hospital that was revitalized by The Nyadire Connection over the past decade, a project valued at more than $1.7 million.
- A sixth clinic, Dindi health center, was rebuilt by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ Global Health program in 2022.
- Mothers of newborn children expressed appreciation for having access to health care and the treatment they received.
Through faith, perseverance and dedication, The Nyadire Connection’s dream of renovating rural health centers in Zimbabwe became reality with the completion of the sixth and final Nyadire Mission Hospital clinic.
The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit celebrated the dedication of Chindenga clinic in February. It was the fifth health clinic under the United Methodist hospital that was revitalized by The Nyadire Connection over the past decade, a project valued at more than $1.7 million. A sixth clinic, Dindi health center, was rebuilt by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ Global Health program in 2022.
Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, who retired as episcopal leader of the Zimbabwe Area in March of this year, presided over the dedication.
“This work was a culmination of great partnership and good management, which words cannot express or be measured,” Nhiwatiwa said. “This work started when I sat down with Bishop Thomas Bickerton of Western Pennsylvania in 2013. Little did we know that God was leading us to something which was going to be this big and very transformative.”
Bishop Sandra L. Steiner Ball of the Western Pennsylvania Conference expressed gratitude in a letter addressed to Nhiwatiwa. “I give God the honor and glory for the vision, wisdom, love and dedication of those who enabled the rebuilding of this health center,” Steiner Ball said.
Ralph Duckworth, chair of The Nyadire Connection, said from the beginning, the consensus was that the centers needed to be rebuilt, but no one knew how the project would be funded.
“After assessing the conditions of the six health centers, it was observed that there was no running water, no electricity, lack of privacy and no segregation of diseases,” he recalled.
“We believed in God and kept the faith. We started telling the stories and made special appeals and presentations. God knocked on the hearts of many, and they donated generously.
“Thank you all who participated in this long, long project, which we have finally completed,” Duckworth said.
Chindenga health center was originally established as an extension of Nyadire Hospital in 1963, providing health delivery service to this community for the past 62 years, said the Rev. Lancelot Mukundu, Nyadire Mission station chair.
The Nyadire Connection joined in 2006 with an effort to support the Home of Hope Children’s Home at the church mission. In 2013, they proposed refurbishing the health centers for advanced and improved health delivery.
He said the Chindenga community responded positively to the latest project.
“All communities worked on it. The project was completed within a year,” Mukundu said.
Romeo Gutu, a member of the Ward 2 council, said community contribution was pegged at 25% of the total building materials. “We achieved that at a cost of $87,500. All other construction projects within the villages ground to a halt as communities worked to bring all the materials to the health center. Bricks, pit and river sands, including the transportation, came from the community.”
Cleopatra Gugulethu Dlamini, Chindenga health center head nurse, remembered the clinic’s early days. “We used to share an office with the Environmental Health Department. There was no privacy. Patients’ consultation and treatment were done in that room.”
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Later, the environment department used the immunization room, which also doubled as a storage room for drugs and as a dispensary.
“Patients with opportunistic infections were mixing with mothers with babies coming for antenatal care,” Dlamini said.
Staff and patients shared restrooms.
“Water was scarce,” she said. “There was no electricity, making it difficult to attend mothers who went into labor during the night. There were instances when we had to use torches or candles.
“Today, we are proud owners of a state-of-the-art health center, which many are referring to as a hospital. It is one of the best in the district. We now have electricity, water, spacious rooms and unshared accommodation,” she said, adding that furniture is still inadequate and does not match current standards.
“We are also grateful to TNC (The Nyadire Connection) for providing food relief during our drought situation,” Dlamini said.
Mabel Chinomona, president of the Senate of Zimbabwe, said health centers are a first line of defense for diseases. “Failure to have proper facilities will catalyse the spread of diseases, and women take the burden of looking after the sick,” she said.
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Memory Pairemanzi, environmental health technician, said she works to manage the environment to control diseases. “We now have clean borehole water powered with solar system. TNC has constructed both flushing toilets and pit latrines in case of water shortages.
“This health center now has an incinerator for waste management and a perimeter fence for security. With all these in place, my job has been made much easier,” Pairemanzi said.
Expectant mother Sarah Master lives far from the center. “I could not risk waiting (to deliver) at home,” she said. “For my safety and that of my child, I had to came and stay at this mother’s waiting shelter.
“I am happy with the hospitality I am receiving,” she said. “The accommodation is good, with two beds per room. Thank you, TNC and United Methodist Church.”
Sarah Mushamba, from Chijaka Village, delivered a boy in late February. “The treatment was amazing,” she said. “I was overwhelmed with joy when Bishop Nhiwatiwa and many other leaders came and prayed for me and my son.”
Evidence Matermachani works in the outpatient department and said she is grateful for the updates to the clinic. “This area is now spacious and can accommodate 30 to 40 people. We carry out health education, vital observation, triaging and antenatal care.”
Emily Chindenga, brought her firstborn child for postnatal care.
“I am happy with the way we are being treated here,” she said. “We came at stipulated times for routine checkups on weight, height and malnutrition screening for our babies.”
Taginia Chindenga delivered her daughter at the clinic. “We always receive health teachings to enable us to manage our babies well. When breastfeeding, we are monitored and taught the best ways to do it. We are very grateful for that.”
Dr. Priviledge Chiundiza, Mutoko District medical officer, praised The United Methodist Church’s contributions to the medical field.
“This is not the only top-class constructed health center by The UMC in this district. I am very much impressed with the spacious rooms that can accommodate many patients.”
Dr. Larry Tanyanyiwa, Nyadire Mission Hospital medical superintendent, said, “The long journey has been completed, and I am happy for these achievements.”
“My second appeal to TNC is to help renovate Nyadire Mission Hospital, especially on provision of electricity and better water reticulation. Machines at the mission hospital have overstayed their age,” he added.
Nhiwatiwa thanked God for bringing the project to fruition.
“My sermon is a few sentences,” he said. “Thank you very much, and I say to Jesus Christ, thank you very much. God, three in one, thank you very much.”
Chingwe is a communicator for the Zimbabwe East Conference.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.
