Blessing Nduku & Elinciya Witman
Hundreds of Mkoba residents and the surrounding areas flocked to Mkoba Polyclinic to receive free medical care during the Rotary Health Days initiative, a community outreach program organized by the Rotary Club of Gweru.
The event offered a range of services, including eye clinics, medical check-ups, dental care, cancer screening, and health education aimed at improving access to basic healthcare for underserved populations.
Speaking to these reporters, Rotarian Kudakwashe Tambaoga, the public image chairperson for Rotary Club Gweru, mentioned institutions that made the outreach program possible.
“The event is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships. The Rotary Club of Gweru has joined forces with key organizations, including the Rotary Club of Dundee, the City of Gweru, the Midlands Private Hospital, Generation Health, First Mutual, and Midlands State University.
“Their combined efforts made it possible to offer a wide range of services, addressing various health concerns within the community. The success of this event shows that when we work together, we can truly make a difference in people’s lives,” added Tambaoga.
A Mkoba resident, Edith Goergina Manowa, expressed gratitude, saying that she learnt about the program through her organization, Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau.
“I heard about the program through my organization, the Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau. I completed all the required procedures, including registering and eye screening through reading tests. My problem was that I could not see small letters. I am happy because the process was free of charge, and without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to solve this issue. I had stopped reading, but now I’m going to resume because I can see clearly.”
Mai Mushayamano from Gweru shared her positive experience with the program, saying that the spectacles she used to buy for 300 today, she got for free and hopes the program continues to help everyone.
“I’m grateful for this program because the spectacles I used to buy for $300, I got today for free. I hope they continue with this initiative so that everyone can get the help they need.”
Speaking after the two-day event President of Rotary Club here in Gweru, Mr Derrick Moyo, stated that as a club, they are here to serve the community voluntarily through health, education, economic development and sanitation.
Rotary Club works to serve the community voluntarily, and here in Gweru, we work under a district called 9210. We aim to serve the community in terms of health, education, economic development, sanitation, and environment.
The main reason for this program is to assist communities in terms of health. With the help of another Rotary Club outside the country, we got spectacles about thousands of them. We decided our community here in Gweru identified a Mkoba Poly Clinic with the help of Gweru City Council.
The programme is run for 2 days, the 18th and the 19th, particularly targeting big eyesight problems. We are also offering some other free health services freely, as we have doctors such as a gynecologist, general health issues, such as BP, sugar, cancer, and tooth problems, among other things.
Today, doctors are targeting 150 patients and it is overwhelming, as we might not be able to see everyone because in terms of capacity and time constraints. We don’t pay these doctors here; it’s a social responsibility. People get frustrated when they can’t get the services. We don’t provide the services in-house and we depend on people’s generosity.
For the two-day program, 300 people received free spectacles and more than 800 people received various medical attention, like free medical consultation, BP, cervical cancer &prostate cancer screening, nutrition advice, dental checks, among others.
The success of the Gweru event highlights the significant impact that community-driven health programs can have. The Rotary Family Health Days initiative continues to be a vital source of support, bringing much-needed medical services directly to the people.
Rotary Family Health Days (RFHDs) are multi-day events where Rotary Clubs in Africa (including Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda) provide free health services to underprivileged communities, offering check-ups, advice, and treatments for conditions like blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and more.
The program is a signature initiative of Rotarians for Family Health & AIDS Prevention (RFHA) and involves collaboration with national and local health officials and NGOs to deliver services such as dental care, deworming, immunizations, and health education.
