[Anglican Communion News Service] The Mother’s Union in Zimbabwe has resolved to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by actively contributing to the country’s maternal health system.

The decision was arrived at after a Mother’s Union (MU) team’s visit to Budiriro Polyclinic, a rural health facility located in a high-density suburb on the outskirts of Harare.

In a statement to ACNS and other partners yesterday, Church and Community Mobilisation Process (CCMP) Coordinator for Harare, Lizzie Zimunya reported: “We carried out a Site visit of Budiriro Polyclinic and were able to carry out a needs analysis.”

She added, “It was then that the MU executive decided to purchase and donate some medical equipment including a blood pressure machine, a foetal Doppler and baby hampers among others.”

“The baby hamper donations will be given to the most needy mothers per month for a period of three months,” said Mrs Zimunya. “It is hoped that during this period we will be able to motivate the MU and other churches in that community to continue in their own special way this initiative.”

Mrs Zimunya explained that the Mother’s Union in Harare has chosen to be guided by practical interventions which is reflected their theme for this year of “Faith and Actions” drawn from the book of James.

“We also want to be associated with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number five – improving maternal health,” she said. “As a result we have been working with the City Health Department in Harare and have since decided to start off with Budiriro, the busiest and also with the highest rate in maternal deaths.”

Mrs Zimunya also said that the visit challenged her personally and that would contribute three ambulance service vouchers maternal patients who need to be referred to a hospital but cannot afford an ambulance service.

“I would want to urge my fellow Christians to be compassionate just like Christ and remember the Bible teaching – whatsoever you do to the least of my brother and sisters, you do it for me,” she said.

The donations will be made today, at a ceremony to be attended by representatives from Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Ministry of Women, Gender and Community Development, City Health Department and the equipment and service providers.