Celebration Health
Celebration Health is a non-profit organization created ten years ago after the collapse of Zimbabwe's once prosperous healthcare system. Its mission is to assist the public sector of Zimbabwe by helping rebuild and reform its ailing conditions. The goal is to reclaim Zimbabwe's former position of health care excellence in Southern Africa and to establish a state-of-the-art hospital in the capital city of Harare.
Since December 2008 Celebration Health has contributed to the health delivery system in 14 districts across the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. Driven by compassion during the devastating cholera outbreak, Pastor Tom Deuschle, Chairman and Founder of Celebration Health, launched "Operation Outstretched Hand" in response to the acute suffering and lack of access to health care exacerbated by the nation wide strike in November 2008.
Resources were strategically mobilized in order to enhance access and provide quality of healthcare for rural and urban communities vulnerable to the epidemic. Celebration Health tackled this objective by initiating three projects; a provision of health education to the public through a four part television program, training and sending out teams of health educators to the epicenter of the crisis in Harare and throughout Zimbabwe; reaching to about 90 000 people. During the months of December and January, Celebration Health paid 330 employees from the City of Harare incentive allowances, which saw several health professionals who had joined the nation wide strike go back to work.
By the end of April 2009, 766 health professionals working in the cholera treatment camps had been paid incentives. Teams of doctors and nurses were deployed to eight different locations (Kadoma, Chegutu, Sanyati, Chakari, Nyanga, Chipinge, Musengezi and Chinhoyi) working mainly in Kadoma, Chegutu and Chinhoyi where 15,000 out of the 98,592 reported cases were treated.
In 2009 Celebration Health sourced 20 million worth of medical equipment, supplies and drugs, $15 million of which was distributed to 37 health institutions throughout the country. To date Celebration Health conducted 12 outreaches of 12 930 people receiving treatment, 149 operated and 955 receiving dental care including tooth extractions. Celebration Health facilitated specialized surgical outreaches in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Science, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, MMI (Medical Missions International), Leap Foundation and Doctors for Life International. This has enabled provision of free corrective surgery to 48 children with hydrocephalus, 150 children with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial deformities, over 200 children with hernia and, 210 people receiving free cataract operations.
