By Byron Mutingwende
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) in partnership with Medico International has procured some materials for relief and aid to affected communities in Chimanimani.
Speaking while handing over the substantive donation of items worth US$50 000 to the organisation’s management committee in Harare on 3 May 2019, Itai Rusike, the Executive Director of CWGH, said the gesture was in line with their mandate since their institution is deeply rooted in the community.
“As CWGH, we are a network of national, civil society and community participation in Zimbabwe. The organisation is deeply rooted in the community and thus awarding the community the opportunity to be visible and engage in public health sector processes in Zimbabwe,” Rusike said.
The Chairperson of CWGH, Delphine Chirimuuta, said her organisation embarked on the partnership with Medico International so as to play its part in improving the welfare of the survivors of Cyclone Idai in Chipinge and Chimanimani whose livelihoods were shattered following the disaster.
The items to be distributed to the affected areas include food, kitchenware and toiletries.
Kitchenware will go a long way to ensuring that mothers are able to prepare decent meals for their families, particularly children.
Mr. Rusike said CWGH works with community health workers hence the need to support them with food since they have volunteered to assist in the affected areas.
“For the prevention of diseases, we will provide mosquito nets, hand wash and water guard. A target of 100 households in the affected areas of Chimanimani district, will receive these items, focusing mainly on vulnerable members of society such as women and orphans. The CWGH Chimanimani chapter will play a role in the distribution which is going to be done in partnership with the Manicaland Provincial Administration and Civil Protection Unite and the Ministry of Health and Child Care in order to give priority to the needy,” Mr Rusike said.
To guard against looting of the items and distribution of the donation on partisan lines, Mr. Rusike dedicated his time to be on the ground himself.
Each of the identified 100 households will get a carton of Mazoe Orang Crush drink, carton of sugar beans, carton of kapenta fish, carton of soya means, carton of cooking oil, carton of sugar and carton of salt.
They will also receive toiletries including bathing and washing soap, sanitary pads, petroleum jelly, hand towels, hand washing liquids, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Each of the households will receive 20 litre buckets to fetch and store water, a set of plates, cups and pots, serving and cooking spoons, steel knives, table and tea spoons, as well as three mosquito nets per household and three solar lamps per household.