Rotary Path to Health supports the
delivery of primary health care to thousands of
rural poor in Zimbabwe through a collaboration of
Rotary clubs in Canada and Zimbabwe, and the
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
The project was initiated in 2008 by a
Zimbabwe-Canadian and, as a result of detailed
planning and risk mitigation, has been very
successful in providing basic medical equipment and
medicines to several health centres in rural
Zimbabwe. While the health care and other needs of
rural Zimbabweans are almost unlimited, Path to
Health has concluded that the most advantageous use
of its limited resources is by narrowly focusing on
the provision of basic medical equipment and
medicines.
The first step involves an analysis of the health
care needs of the local community, an assessment of
potential benefits and risks, consultation with the
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, and
meetings with village leaders and community
councillors. Once the needs have been identified, we
work closely with Zimbabwean pharmacists and
pharmaceutical companies, both within Zimbabwe and
internationally, to produce a packing list for the
clinic. Each clinic is supplied with a “Starter
Kit”, made up of numerous items of basic medical
equipment, and a “Maintenance Kit” consisting of one
year’s supply of basic medicines. In subsequent
years the clinic’s inventory of medicines is topped
up as required. These products are sourced from
pharmaceutical companies who generously supply the
items at very favourable prices, many at cost or
less. Currently a Starter Kit costs USD 3,000 and a
Maintenance Kit USD 2,000, both delivered Harare,
Zimbabwe.
Each supported clinic serves a population catchment
of up to 15,000 rural poor. Anecdotal evidence
supports the conclusion that the program is having a
significant beneficial impact on the lives of those
we seek to serve.
Path to Health has the unequivocal approval of the
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, and
regular contact is maintained between Rotary clubs
in Canada and Zimbabwe and the Ministry.
Individual clinics for possible inclusion in the
program are selected with reference to several
criteria. These include:
Existing buildings that are functional and secure.
Existing professionally qualified nursing staff.
Reasonable accessibility for Zimbabwean Rotarians.
Evidence of tangible support from local village
councillors.
Approval of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and
Child Welfare.
At the outset it is emphasised to the local village
leaders that the delivery of primary health care and
maintenance of the clinic is their responsibility,
and that Path to Health’s role is not to assume
their responsibility but to support them in carrying
out their responsibilities.
The program is managed in Zimbabwe by Zimbabwean
Rotarians who take delivery of the medical supplies,
ensure quality of product and accuracy of invoices
and bills of lading, provide secure storage, and
deliver the supplies to each clinic. These Rotarians
also maintain regular contact with each clinic and
community leaders, monitor the efficacy of the
program, and arrange work parties of Rotarians and
villagers to undertake small projects to improve the
clinic’s facilities.
Rotarians are assisted in this work by Zimbabwe
based medical doctors who generously provide
guidance and advice, and who occasionally visit
clinics to assess the program. The program also
enjoys the support of Zimbabwe based senior business
leaders.
As a result of these procedures donors are assured
that the highest standards of stewardship are
applied to their donated funds, and that donated
funds are used exclusively for the purpose of
supporting each clinic. No part of donations is
applied to administrative or other operating
expenses and program participants receive no
reimbursement of their expenses. At the same time,
Path to Health relies solely on the generosity of
donors, Rotary clubs, and The Rotary Foundation. We
do not receive financial support from government
agencies or other organizations.
Please support a clinic by purchasing a
Starter Kit
or a
Maintenance Kit, or both, in
the certain knowledge that your
generosity will help provide sorely
needed health care to thousands of rural
poor. You may choose to form a group of
donors who have limited financial
resources and are unable to individually
purchase a Kit.
You can make your donation by credit
card via the link on this page to the
Rotary Club of Tsawwassen, or by mailing
a cheque, payable to the Rotary club of
Tsawwassen and marked Path to Health, to
the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen, P. O. Box
1405, Delta, B.C. V4M 3Y8, Canada.
Thank you for your generous support for
this very worthwhile endeavour.
Existing buildings that are functional and secure.