Officially known as Republic of Zimbabwe, republic (2005 est. pop. 12,747,000), 150,803 sq mi (390,580 sq km), South central Africa. It is bordered on the north by Zambia, on the northeast and east by Mozambique, on the south by South Africa, and on the southwest and west by Botswana. Harare, formerly known as Salisbury, is capital of Zimbabwe, is largest city and its administrative, commercial and communication center.
Zimbabwe’s economy mainly depends on agriculture. The country has good road and rail networks and domestic and international air service. The main exports are cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles, and clothing. Imports include machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, and fuels. South Africa is by far the largest trading partner, followed by China, Japan, and Zambia.
A country of roughly 16 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most commonly used. Climate is tropical or Subequatorial.
Zimbabwe is known for its dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife, much of it within parks, reserves and safari areas. On the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls make a thundering 108m drop into narrow Batoka Gorge, where there’s white-water rafting and bungee-jumping. Downstream are Matusadona and Mana Pools national parks, home to hippos, rhinos and birdlife.
BACKGROUND FOR WHY LFSC IN ZIMBABWE: –
Formation of ILCO Zimbabwe
The project Ilco Zimbabwe was initiated by the Moyo family in Zimbabwe. It came out of the experience of difficulties and challenges when they battled to save their daughter Lizzie’s life.
After her stoma operation for I.B.D. in 2006, Lizzie faced that the medical health care and support services required were either too expensive or unavailable in the health care institutions in Zimbabwe.
At this point the family also considered other ostomates who were in Lizzie’s situation. They decided to mobilize other ostomates, their families and resources around the country, in attempt to advocate for their special health care needs and interests.
Marie Stéen, vice president at international department of ILCO Sweden, was contacted by Heini Lindsal on behalf of the Moyo family. An intensive period of mail correspondence and exchange of experiences took place between Marie Stéen and Lizzie Moyo and her family. She learnt to know more about the work carried out by ILCO Sweden. As well as the work done by many similar organizations supporting ostomates around the world. During her stay in Sweden several study visits were done to related organizations and health care institutions.
Management Of Ilco Zim Trust
The management of the organization consists of seven board members, one director, one finance officer, one program manager and two branch representatives. All work is carried out on a voluntary basis. ILCO ZIM is supported by its mentor organization SEVACA in various aspects.
The Main Activities Implemented During Three Years
The main activities implemented were categorized under following strategies;
Support to ostomates, the primary beneficiaries Awareness and advocacy
Institutional capacity building
The pre-project planning began already in Stockholm. Lizzie was encouraged to continue to reach other ostomates in Zimbabwe and neighboring countries. The aim was that Lizzie should establish a like-minded organization in Zimbabwe. ILCO ZIM TRUST was registered 2010, although the work at ground level began already 2007 in Zimbabwe. The project between ILCO Sweden and ILCO ZIM started 2011.
Why LFSC in Zimbabwe-
I met Linda and Lizzie Moyo of Zimbabwe at the EOA (European Ostomy Association) conference held in Taastrup – Copenhagen, from 5 to 8 October 2017. Lizzie is a young female and has a stoma since few years. She, in her report about ostomy care in her country at the congress, highlighted the extreme need for help who had ostomies in her country.
She started ILCO Zimbabwe, an ostomy support group with the help of ILCO Sweden, which at present has about 800 ostomates as members. The stoma care in Zimbabwe is hardly developed, and ostomy bags and accessories are not available or are very expensive which most ostomates cannot afford to buy.
In 2016, ILCO Zimbabwe (ILEOSTOMY-COLOSTOMY ZIMBABWE TRUST) received a container from ILCO Sweden full of ostomy products. Because the rents in Zimbabwe are very expensive, they thought about using the container as an office warehouse and placed it in the area within the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Soon, however, the space proved to be insufficient and once again ILCO Sweden generously responded to the call by sending a second container to support the first to ensure the storage of materials, in order to use the other as an office-clinic.
Ostomy Centre in the Containers
Given the situation, I set out to schedule an intervention from our “Lions for Stoma Care” (LFSC) organization involving the “Lions Club International Foundation” (LCIF) that kindly sanctioned grant in aid of US $ 10,000 to Lions in Zimbabwe.
It was possible to organize LFSC from 3rd to 7th December 2018, the first training course dedicated to health care professionals and ostomates at the “Harare Central Hospital” due to :
The contribution of funds by LCIF to the Lions of Zimbabwe
- The enthusiasm and collaboration of local Lion
- The very dedicated and hard-work of PDG Jona Machaya (Zimbabwe) and Linda and Lizzie Moyo ,
- Ministry of health to support the LFSC training program in Zimbabwe and allowing health care professionals to attend the program,
- The inputs of His Excellency Godfrey Magwenzi, Ambassador in Italy of Zimbabwe
- Unconditional and continuous support and encouragement by PIP Dr. Ashok Mehta (India), of PID it practically in day today life, how to deal with the many psychological and social problems (Diet, relationship and sexuality, clothing, Financial concerns, get back to work, travel and hobbies etc ) in order to rehabilitate the ostomates and make them self-sufficient and active both in the family and society than in their world of work.
The team of teachers, in addition to lectures and practical demonstrations with bags for ostomy and its accessories, also examined some ostomates giving them valuable tips to improve their quality of life. Unfortunately, in addition to adults, we found that there is also a fair number of children with ostomy, mostly due to congenital malformations. Unfortunately, some of these little ones have a very unhappy existence because they have not been given help by their parents to exists normal life with use of ostomy bags and accessories and therefore, they have been abandoned to their sad destiny, isolated from the world, from family affections, from playmates and without schooling.
With a deafening silence, a huge chapter opens-up of the children with the ostomy, a silent suffering that in the world has little attention from both the health authorities and the doctors themselves and the media.
The proper organizational aspect of the course was masterfully managed by Linda and Lizzie Moyo and PDG Jona Machaya along with the local Lions, I want to mention here: PDG Dr. Alva, PDG Clever Mugadza, LC President “Harare the Phoenix” Tinashe Chihwayi and Lions Priscilla, Ruth, Thabani. Each of them took turns taking part in our lessons, emphasizing the attention and concrete solidarity of the Lions of Zimbabwe for this serious handicap.
At the end of the course we delivered 30 certificates of participation to as many nurses who are now able to assist and manage a stoma of otomates and the nursing care of the children with stoma of the paediatric department of the “Harare Central Hospital”. The hospital has designated within its premises, a dedicated room where the Stoma Nurses can assist decently the ostomates of the capital.
But the interest of the Lions does not end with this initiative! They will have to continue to follow the development of the “stoma care” in their country so that the seed planted this time, can sprout and bear abundant fruit!
Social and tour after the course – Local Lions had looked after us very kindly and had arranged social dinners and meetings with local Lions and health care professionals. I and ET Tai Seow Beng went to visit Victoria Falls and Wild life Safari Park which was very nice, enjoyable and thrilling experience in our life.
Lion Prof. Carlo Pezcoller, Modena Italy
Prof. Carlo Pezcollar and ET
