Health & Nutrition

The mother of three is seen as a hygiene champion in her village. The coming of the COVID-19 pandemic has expanded Esnati’s roles in her community. She feels obligated to help her community fight the pandemic. Every week, she braves the sizzling sun and long distances to support the community on how they can prevent infection and protect themselves and their families from the novel Coronavirus.

“I am really happy. I am thankful to Save the Children for installing piped water at the clinic. During my stay here, there was no water and I travelled long distances to fetch water for use. It was one of the most painful and exhausting experiences I went through when I was pregnant.” “It’s hard for a pregnant woman to do such a task but I had to be strong because there was no other option. I would fetch water in the morning and evening but the water was not enough. It was difficult to practise good hygiene because you’ll be trying to save up some water.”

Save the Children has been supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care in facilitating COVID-19 sensitisation and awareness raising trainings for traditional leaders in Hwange district. The leaders were trained on what COVID-19 is, how it is transmitted, how to protect oneself to avoid contracting it, how to handle suspected COVID-19 case in the community, as well as requirements for COVID-19 burials in the community.

In the after-math of the Cyclone Idai disaster which hit Chimanimani and Chipinge districts of Zimbabwe, Save the Children saw it fit to assist areas affected through the supporting placement of District Nutrition Coordinators (DNC) at health facilities. The Nutrition Coordinators are workingwith communities in fighting malnutrition thorough supporting Village Health Workers, active screening for Malnutrition, conducting counselling sessions and facilitating trainings on prevention of Malnutrition.

Save the Children has been supporting health facilities in Chipinge and Chimanimani Districts of Zimbabwe through providing food, beds, blankets for use by mothers at the Waiting Mothers Shelters.