…As Smile Zimbabwe-Holiday Inn Mutare partner on menstrual hygiene awareness campaign in rural schools

Ngoni Dapira

THE old adage that a stitch in time saves nine was the lesson learned on Tuesday at the official opening and handover ceremony of a refurbished and extended ward at St Joseph’s Mission Hospital courtesy of Holiday Inn Mutare.

Holiday Inn Mutare is part of the InterContinental Hotels (IHG) Group of Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s leading hoteliers. The just ended month of September was its corporate social responsibility (CSR) month. St Joseph’s Mission Hospital which is located in Mutare’s oldest high density suburb, Sakubva, is a Roman Catholic mission hospital which was officially commissioned in 1954 and up-to-date operates as one of the country’s 35 functioning mission hospitals.

Holiday Inn Mutare general manager Charlton Chimbira cutting the ribbon at the official opening and handover ceremony.

Apart from refurbishing and extending the hospital ward, which comprises of separate units for the female, male and pediatric wards, the hotel also donated 24 blankets, 50 pillow cases, 50 sheets, 24 mattress covers, 24 bed throws, 24 pillows, 24 pillow protectors, upholstered the mattresses and repaired and repainted the beds to give the ward a modern and relaxing aura that makes if feel like home away from home for patients. The construction works at the ward started first week of September.

The old ward and beds before being refurbished.

From a previous capacity of six beds in each unit, the extended ward can now house eight beds in each unit of the female, male and pediatric wards. Holiday Inn Mutare general manager Charlton Chimbira said the St Joseph’s Mission Hospital donation marked the end of their series of activities in September that intended not only to help improve the service delivery system at the hospital, but also improve the well-being of the local community that relies on its important health service.

The new beds and new fresh look of one of the units.

“As a hotel and organization we have a robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme which seeks to address the various developmental challenges in our immediate communities. In the spirit of giving for good month, of which, the ‘Giving for Good’ initiative is our corporate social responsibility arm, this thoughtful gesture is a testament of us supporting and uplifting our community. We believe that this donation will make a tangible difference in the lives of the recipients and the community at large,” said Chimbira.

Group photo after the handover.

He said their focus on the health delivery system was meant to compliment government efforts to meet the targets of the forthcoming United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Chimbira added that the goal includes targets to reduce maternal and child mortality, end epidemics of communicable diseases, decrease deaths from non-communicable diseases and road accidents, improve mental health and achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

He said as an organization they believe SDG3 can only be achievable through partnerships with the corporate world and non-governmental organisations, citing that government alone cannot sustain the demands of an efficient health service delivery system countrywide.

St Joseph’s Mission Hospital sister in-charge, Albertina Bonga, thanked Holiday Inn Mutare for assisting to refurbish and upgrade the ward. She said the refurbishment and extension of several wards at the hospital was a decision they made due to the high demand for health services by the community. Sister Albertina said they have been planning to gradually modernise the entire hospital. Critical to this process is a phased roll out of the overall vision to be executed dependent on the availability of funding.

The extension of the ward in progress with the outer brick layer being built.

“St Joseph’s Mission Hospital was converted into a general hospital. As you can see here, our OPD (Outpatients Department), actually, we are improvising the wards. They shouldn’t be what they are now because they were mainly built for TB (Tuberculosis) admissions, but we are having quite a number of people coming here instead of going to the VCPH (Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital) because they want to be admitted at a mission hospital. So it is this increase in demand for admissions and the increase in numbers at our maternity ward that prompted us to extend the capacity of our wards and we are very grateful that Holiday Inn Mutare stepped up to assist,” she said.

Adding, “We used to see such gestures long back being done by other companies. You have taken the button and really changed the face of this hospital. You have made us proud to see that there are companies out there still doing good through corporate social responsibility works. The place looks very new like it was when it was built. May God Bless you. We will continue praying for you as an organisation to excel in business and continue on this path of giving for good to help develop our communities,” she said.

St Joseph’s Mission Hospital was originally established as an isolated infectious diseases hospital dedicated to handling tuberculosis (TB) cases. However, over the years its services have expanded by necessity to cater for the broad medical needs of the communities around it.

In 2010 the Ministry of Health and Child Care officially declared it a “General Hospital”. However, it was not modernised to suit its new and expanded role and the increased demand meant that the facilities could not cope, which is why such interventions by Holiday Inn Mutare come at a critical time when the need for affordable and reliable health delivery systems is a public outcry throughout the country.

(L-R): Holiday Inn Mutare general manager Charlton Chimbira and the Smile Zimbabwe director Paul Kapesi handing over the sanitary pads to Saungweme Enavent Primary School headmistress Shalot Chirume and teacher Getrude Murenju.

The handout to St Joseph’s Mission Hospital by Holiday Inn Mutare comes on the heels of another initiative in September where Holiday Inn Mutare partnered a Mutare based non-governmental organization, Smile Zimbabwe in a menstrual hygiene awareness and sanitary pads handover programme to a rural school in Mutasa District.

The initiative which was a partnership between Smile Zimbabwe and Holiday Inn Mutare benefited rural children from Saungweme Enavant Primary School in Old Mutare, a satellite school of Tsvingwe Primary School in Penhalonga. They donated seven boxes with about 2500 disposable sanitary pads. Holiday Inn Mutare also provided lunch for the children and teachers that attended the function giving the kids, most of whom had never set foot in a hotel, an unforgettable experience.

Speaking at the event held at Holiday Inn Mutare, Smile Zimbabwe programmes officer Shiela Munjoma said as an organization their programmes provide access to vital resources, including educational support, vocational training and health services aimed at uplifting the lives of women and girls in under served communities.

“Through advocacy and community engagement we strive to raise awareness about the challenges faced by women and girls to promote their rights. Founded in 2022, as Smile Zimbabwe we believe that by investing in women and girls we can create a ripple effect that leads to stronger families and more resilient communities,” said Munjoma.

Group photo with some of the children that attended the event.

Adding, “Our donation of reusable pads to Saungweme Enavant Primary School is just one example of our efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of young girls across Manicaland Province. Together, we can unlock their potential and ensure a brighter future for generations to come,” she said.

The headmistress of the school Shalot Chirume said the school started in 2002 and it is yet to stand alone, still operating as a satellite school for Tsvingwe Primary School. She said the school has an enrollment of 177 children on average from Early Childhood Development (ECD) up to Grade Seven but experiences high levels of school dropouts due to the influencing surrounding environment of illegal gold mining activities.

“Because we are in between a peri urban area like Penhalonga and the rural areas, which are the farms around Old Mutare, we are serving both rural and urban communities that want cheaper options for education after failing to take their children to better established schools like Hartzel Primary and Tsvingwe Primary. Poverty leads to high levels of school dropouts. Enrolment always drops the following term after it goes up. Its the environment of artisanal mining. Cases of teenage pregnancies are also rife as some parents still marry off their children early to gweja’s (artisanal miners) for money, “ she said.

She however thanked Smile Zimbabwe and Holiday Inn for remembering the rural girl child. Chirume said such awareness’s are important and inspire the girl child to know that she equally has rights.

Representing Mutasa South legislator Advocate Misheck Mugadza, his wife Rosina (centre) attended the event.

Representing the Mutasa South legislator who is also the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Advocate Misheck Mugadza, his wife Rosina Mugadza said as a mother and a primary school teacher professionally, the issue of menstrual hygiene is at the centre of her heart, especially for the rural girls that come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Hon Mugadza was praised to have played a pivotal role in mobilising resources to build most infrastructure at the school and drawing partners to come and assist orphaned and vulnerable children there.

One of the Saungweme Enavant Primary School children explaining the importance of menstrual hygiene during the event.

“To support rural girls, we need to do such educational campaigns on menstrual hygiene products and this is a good starting point. But next time identify more schools to spread the word far and wide instead of one school. I am passionate about empowering girls and uplifting communities in disadvantaged areas. Thank you for such initiatives. By breaking down barriers to education, we unlock the potential of these young girls, enabling them to build brighter futures,” she said.

Dr Mirirai Mukuvapasi who presented on menstrual cycle hygiene said period poverty is a significant issue in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas where many girls lack access to affordable sanitary products. “This leads to absenteeism from school, diminished self-esteem and limited participation in daily activities,” said Dr Mukuvapasi.

Smile Zimbabwe director Paul Kapesi said the partnership with Holiday Inn Mutare aligned with their commitment to the SDGs. “By supporting initiatives that promote education, gender equality and health, we contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society. Empowering girls in rural areas is a crucial step toward achieving these goals,’ said Kapesi.