BY SAMUEL NJINGA
Financial services giant Old Mutual Zimbabwe has donated 200 blankets, 480 pulse oximeters and 10 oxygen concentrators to Masvingo Provincial Teaching Hospital under its annual Winter Warmer Campaign, in a move expected to strengthen patient care during the cold season.
The donation, handed over yesterday, forms part of the company’s corporate social investment programme, which targets vulnerable communities and supports the country’s public health sector.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the hospital, Old Mutual Zimbabwe Group Secretary Hardlife Nharingo said the initiative demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery through sustainable partnerships.
“I am very pleased that as part of our Winter Warmer Campaign, we are making this donation to Masvingo Provincial Teaching Hospital. This is the second year that we have run the campaign after launching it last year. The campaign focuses on vulnerable groups and seeks to make a meaningful difference where the need is greatest,” said Nharingo.
The donated equipment comprises 200 blankets, 480 pulse oximeters and 10 oxygen concentrators, all of which will help improve patient management and monitoring.
“We hope these items will be put to good use in the hospital. We will continue to assist the hospital through a strategic partnership because we believe healthcare institutions require support from both the public and private sectors. It is pleasing that Old Mutual is coming at the right time,” he added.
Pulse oximeters are essential medical devices used to measure oxygen saturation levels in patients’ blood, while oxygen concentrators provide a reliable source of oxygen for patients experiencing breathing difficulties. Both are critical in emergency care, respiratory treatment and intensive patient management.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the hospital, Medical Superintendent Dr Noel Ralph Zulu expressed gratitude to Old Mutual Zimbabwe for the timely intervention, saying the donation would enhance service delivery and complement Government efforts to improve healthcare.
“We are grateful to Old Mutual for having a corporate eye to donate to our institution. One of our key focus areas is building strategic partnerships, and we continue to encourage organisations and individuals to participate as we work towards developing Masvingo Provincial Teaching Hospital into a modern teaching and referral institution,” said Dr Zulu.
He noted that partnerships between the corporate sector and public health institutions remain critical in addressing resource gaps and ensuring patients receive quality healthcare services.
The handover ceremony was attended by members of the hospital’s senior management team, including the Clinical Services Director Dr Richard Makoni, the Senior Matron Justina Rufaro Nyakudzi and other senior officials, alongside Old Mutual Zimbabwe staff led by Group Secretary Hardlife Nharingo.
The Winter Warmer Campaign has become one of Old Mutual Zimbabwe’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiatives, focusing on providing essential support to vulnerable groups during the cold winter months. Through the programme, the company has continued to invest in community well-being by supporting health institutions, promoting social inclusion and strengthening partnerships that contribute to national development.
The latest donation is expected to benefit thousands of patients receiving treatment at Masvingo Provincial Teaching Hospital and further reinforces the important role that public-private partnerships play in improving Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.