Mater Dei is the only private, non-government hospital in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe. This 172 bed hospital in an extremely rural section is desperate for drugs and equipment.  The country’s current political and economic situation has made made providing even the most basic health care a constant struggle.

The board of Village Relief Foundation was put in touch with Mater Dei hospital through the Mill Valley Rotary Club, whose members have agreed to offer grant money to defray the high shipping costs of medicines and supplies.  However, funds need to be raised to buy the basic medicines and supplies.   

Sister Maureen Jamieson, the hospital’s administrator, sent us a very long wish list of medicines and supplies, everything from catheters and syringes to antibiotics and infusion pumps. She declared that they would be most grateful for any help we could provide.  “It really is so difficult to obtain medical consumables, let alone drugs, and when we are able to buy these items the cost is horrendous. Still we have to continue because our community really does need the facility.”

In early 2008, volunteers and board members of Village Relief Foundation packed three boxes containing basic medicines which the hospital had said were desperately needed. Also included in the box were a good number of sutures that we’d received as a donation from the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Because of the restrictive nature of sending medical supplies to Zimbabwe, Village Relief Foundation has had to use an express carrier which has been quite expensive. After lengthy delays at customs, the boxes finally arrived safely -- and  were most gratefully received. Sister Maureen remarked in her thank you email for the second shipment: "Father Christmas arrived yesterday.  The box was intact and there was great excitement when we unpacked the goods.  Our situation is crazy and believe it or not a box of sutures costs between 120 to 140 billion Zimbabwe dollars.  It gets tougher by the day..."  She added thanks to everyone who made the donation possible, and promised that it all would be put to very good use.

Since the time of this writing (July 2008), we have been saddened to learn that Mater Dei hospital has had to close all but its intensive care units.  Sister Maureen cites the high cost of medicines due to astounding inflation as a primary reason for the closures.  Now, more than ever, Mater Dei needs our help and support.  The proceeds from the August 23 2008 fundraiser will be devoted to doing so.