Faith Based Organizations have historically played an important role in providing healthcare in Zimbabwe, particularly serving the most marginalized rural populations. FBOs can reach people through their network of health facilities and mobile health services. In addition to their health services which mostly serving the rural populations, FBOs also have strong community engagement capacity as well as reaching people through institutions like primary and high schools and institutions of higher education. FBOs therefore have a unique role and capacity to reach people through community networks, infrastructure and institutions.
Health Board Establishment and Mandate
The Zimbabwe Episcopal Health Board was set up in May 2010. This was done in a bid to improve accountability as well as cohesion among health institutions and partners. The board works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), United Methodist congregations as well as local and international partners and other large faith-based organizations (FBO) such as the Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopalian churches.Together the team ensures that the services offered by the Church are of the highest standard, run on business lines and address the following goals:
- To promote maternal and child health
- To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB
- To alleviate Poverty
- To build a global partnership
The board is contributing towards meeting these development objectives through its programs:
- Nutrition: feeding of the malnourished and promoting nutrition gardens.
- Maternal and Child Health: revitalization of waiting mother shelters, and EPI (expanded program of immunization).
- Imagine No Malaria: community based programs and strengthening laboratories. Two grants valued at $140,000 were sourced for the Imagine No Malaria campaign.
- HIV/AIDS: home based care training programs.
- Water and sanitation: provision of clean water to communities.
The board ensures that the UMC health institutions and other related programs provide holistic, affordable and accessible delivery of health care services throughout the Episcopal area. The board comprehensively address malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, supports curative measures, educates, and runs prevention programmes as well as revitalizing health facilities and supporting human resource development.