Locations: Chikwaka, Nyadire, Mutambara, and Old Mutare
Rural Zimbabweans afflicted with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses suffer unnecessarily without adequate palliative care. This problem is extensive and worsening due to the poor condition of the public health system, chronic labor shortages, inadequate training and supervision, and inconsistent supply of medicines and supplies.
United Methodist Church’s Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Health System (UMC) is one organization working to alleviate this suffering. UMC operates three hospitals and 10 clinics in the most remote areas of the country. It aims to provide compassionate, quality healthcare to everyone regardless of creed, beliefs, race, or tribe, using the holistic approach.
Each of its facilities has a home-based care program, with trained community caregivers supervised by a qualified nurse from the hospital or clinic. In addition to home-based care, UMC provides care for orphaned and vulnerable children, mother-and-child care, and medical/surgical care. UMC is affiliated with the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa.