Qoki Zindlovukazi Community Organisation has donated food hampers to four hospitals in Bulawayo and Lupane to assist them during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
The United Kingdom-based organisation targeting women in Matabeleland and Midlands utilises social media to address challenges faced by women and their communities in the diaspora and Zimbabwe.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday declared a total lockdown on the country from Monday, March 30, until April 19, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 which has infected more than 500 000 people worldwide.
The country has recorded eight positive cases, with one of them having succumbed to the disease.
Speaking to CITE, Sithule Tshuma founder of Qoki Zindlovukazi said they donated food hampers to four hospitals so that they can cope during the 21-day lockdown.
“As Qoki women when we heard about lockdown due to coronavirus we just panicked and thought patients in hospitals need food. We donated food hampers to Mpilo Hospital, Thorngrove Hospital, St Lukes and St Paul in Lupane,” said Tshuma.
“Mpilo Hospital received 40kg rice, 30kg sugar,40 kg flour, 40 litres cooking oil, roller meal 40 kg and 8 litres Mazoe. Thorngrove received 30kg sugar, rice 30kg, flour 30kg, cooking oil 20 litres and roller meal 30kg. We will try and support these hospitals whenever we can.”
“St Paul’s Hospital and St Luke also received food hampers”.
Tshuma added that they are also raising money to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the hospitals.
“So far, we have managed to raise 510 pounds of 5 000 pounds needed in total for PPE, we are already liaising with a company that can deliver within a week but we also spoke to Thorngrove doctor who told us about local company that sells PPE,” she said.
She urged people to stay at home to help protect the already stretched health care facilities.
“We are encouraging people to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 and also stay at home to help protect the already stretched healthcare facilities,” said Tshuma.
Contacted for a comment, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Senior Public Relations Officer, Nesisa Mpofu confirmed having received the donations.
“I can confirm that we received the donation, we wanted to announce all donations at once.
“We are very grateful for the support we have received from different stakeholders and we are going to publish all donations soon,” said Mpofu.
