Fundraising to support mental health in Zimbabwe during Covid-19 Crisis

Tirivanhu Community Mental Health Home, Tariro Mental Health Home and Beatrice Road Mental Health Home People living with mental illness in Zimbabwe are particularly affected by economic challenges, trauma, domestic violence and disturbing levels of poverty. Their life expectancy is much lower than the wider population. They are also at greater risk of exposure to infectious diseases such as COVID-19 We are raising money to support three community mental health homes  in Zimbabwe that support 50 residents. Most residents are vulnerable. Many are recovering from schizophrenia, bi-polar effective disorder, depression, anxiety, gender violence, epilepsy, HIV, substance misuse and other disabilities. […]

Read more »
Training to support local midwives in Binga

Training to support local midwives in Binga

Paediatrician Dr Tsitsi Chawatama, with the support of Dorcas Gwata and some local staff, ran a training update with 14 local nurses and midwives on caring for unwell newborns. This training was to support babies born with low birthweight, breathing problems and infection and help save babies lives. There is no specialist neonatal unit at the hospital so midwives, paediatric nurses and family medicine nurses need these skills to be able to support critically ill babies. At the end of the training each participant received a workbook/manual summarising the training content with access to training resources to support future training.

Read more »
Mental health training in Binga

Mental health training in Binga

Here is what local staff working in Binga wanted to learn more about. The training was delivered by ZHTS Trustee and mental health nurse specialist Dorcas Gwata with the support of local staff – Dr Welcome Mlilo, District Medical Officer, Binga Hospital Matron Mudande Sister Sunungurai Chiwanire and Mental Health Lead Nurse Dr Tinashe Goronga in Binga Here is what local staff on the ground wanted to learn more about

Read more »
Please help support Family Medicine training by donating money for books

Please help support Family Medicine training by donating money for books

ZHTS is delighted to announce that in January 2020, a M Med in Family Medicine programme has finally been launched at NUST (National University of Science and Technology) in Bulawayo. This is the first ever post graduate training for GPs in Bulawayo. Local GP Muriel Fallala is leading it with support from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Currently there are 4 trainees. One is based at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo , one is working for the local prison service in Mutare. Another doctor is based at Plumtree District Hospital, and one previously was previously working at Ingustheni (the main psychiatric hospital […]

Read more »
Chair of ZHTS, Dorcas Gwata appointed as an Honorary Adviser to Tropical Health Education Trust (THET)

Chair of ZHTS, Dorcas Gwata appointed as an Honorary Adviser to Tropical Health Education Trust (THET)

Dorcas said her new appointment as an Honorary Adviser to THET is “a great opportunity for ZHTS to think more broadly on how we can widen our global health profile whilst adding greater value to our outcomes and improve our capacity to impact on vulnerable communities. “ She will be advising THET on a wide range initiatives including grant programs, health and education programs with particular focus on their Africa programs.  Dorcas has a long standing history of working in global health partnership in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. She is particularly keen to broaden knowledge on the value of diaspora engagements in health partnerships and evidence lessons that […]

Read more »
Introducing Gemma Griffiths, our new ZHTS Patron

Introducing Gemma Griffiths, our new ZHTS Patron

Gemma Griffiths is an artist who is passionate about mental health and epilepsy and is keen on supporting and championing ZHTS’s work though arts and music.  “I am incredibly humbled to be patron of the ZHTS, a charity whose work is absolutely vital in our beautiful Zimbabwe. Creating in increasing awareness to mental health, and battling the stigma around it in Zimbabwe is changing lives daily, and I believe whole heartedly in the work the ZHTS is doing.” Dorcas Gwata, Chair of ZHTS said,  “Gemma will play a critical role in appraising our charity and championing our work, particularly for […]

Read more »
Inspirational young Zimbabwean Doctor

Inspirational young Zimbabwean Doctor

Dr Tinashe Goronga is a General Medical Officer at Binga District Hospital in Zimbabwe. At medical school he attended a Social Medicine course in Uganda offered by Socmed Global, where participants explored social and cultural issues  beyond the biological basis of disease, health equity and addressing structural causes of disease . The course had a huge impact on Dr Goronga’s career development and sparked an interest in global health and social justice. He went on to do his internship at Mpilo hospital in  Bulawayo. Whilst in Bulawayo he had the opportunity to support Sexual Rights Centre, a local organisation that […]

Read more »
ZHTS Annual Meeting Sat 7th July 2018

ZHTS Annual Meeting Sat 7th July 2018

  We are pleased to invite you to our annual meeting at The Health Foundry, Canterbury house, 1 Royal Street, London SE1 7LL   on Saturday 7th July 10am until 2pm. During the morning we will discuss some current health projects underway in Zimbabwe. Agenda 10:00 to 10:30 – Coffee and welcome 10:30 to 10:40 – Chairs introduction 10:40 to 11:10 – Supporting people with Epilepsy in Zimbabwe 11.10-11.40 Arts and health-supporting HIV medication adherence Dr Melanie Abas 11.40 -12.00 Respectful Care in a midwifery setting Dr Miriam Bonduelle 12.00- 12.30 Discussion Future work of ZHTS 12.30-13.00 Lunch 13:00 to 14.00 […]

Read more »
Supporting Epilepsy Care in Zimbabwe

Supporting Epilepsy Care in Zimbabwe

On Thursday 7th December 2017,  Kate Adams and Dorcas Gwata from ZHTS pitched on behalf of the Epilepsy Support Foundation in Zimbabwe at the Funding network (http://thefundingnetwork.org.uk/) and raised £11,000 The Epilepsy Support Foundation does great work supporting people with epilepsy- their families and carers http://www.esf.org.zw/ There are 600,000 people living with epilepsy in Zimbabwe many of whom are not diagnosed so are not able to access treatment. When epilepsy is untreated people suffer from injuries form falls or burns from falling into cooking fires. The project will train rural health care workers to be able to better diagnose and treat […]

Read more »