Having started the project at Lesedi, we soon realized that healthcare was a major problem. The nearest public clinic was far from Lesedi, with transport costs unaffordable for most. Health issues were often ignored, or a traditional healer visited instead.
Building a clinic at Lesedi – along with various ancillary buildings – was a hugely ambitious project but despite the challenges, Lesedi Clinic opened to the community in March 2020.
Lesedi Clinic provides local, affordable healthcare, antenatal care and vaccinations. The clinic and school work closely together to monitor the welfare of our learners and provide ongoing treatment as necessary.
Along with the clinic, we have also built a maternity waiting-home for expecting mothers to stay during the final weeks of pregnancy. The cottage enables women to give birth in a safe environment, monitored by skilled health professionals.
Lesedi Clinic is part of the Zimbabwe Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), which aims to reduce vaccine preventable diseases. Targeted mostly at the under-5s, vaccines protect from Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Meningitis, Polio, Pneumonia etc. The clinic is also giving the HPV vaccine to girls aged between 10-14 years for prevention of cervical cancer.
Regretfully, the clinic is still awaiting approval to distribute anti-retrovirals but the process is ongoing, and we are confident that permission will soon be granted.
We employ two nurses at the clinic, along with two nurse-aides and support staff. We also employ a doctor for weekly clinics. All costs are funded by donations to the Trust, so please consider supporting this worthwhile project.
