Medical Mission International has partnered with Zimbabwe’s South Medical Hospital to fund agriculture projects located on the hospital’s property.

The MMI funding provided for the infrastructure and labour to build a one thousand metre green house, as well as develop open fields on the hospital’s property. The green house and cultivated fields now produce crops of cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, peas, potatoes and kale.

The agricultural project aims to provide sustainable programmes for the hospital. “It has been really exciting,” said Dr. Mathew Wazara, who serves as MMI’s medical advisor in Zimbabwe and has been directly involved in the development and operations of MMI-funded agricultural project.

According to Dr. Wazara, the harvested vegetables are being used in a variety of ways. The access to fresh vegetables allows the hospital an efficient way to provide high nutrition meals to patients, most who are impoverished and typically suffer from nutritional deficiencies. The surplus vegetables are taken to local markets and stores where they are sold. The produce sales provide revenue stream to the hospital. Wazara said that excess produce is also shared with staff. The hospital also hosts an “open,” day where fresh vegetables are given free of charge to needy people in the area. Money generated through sales assists in overall hospital operations, allows the hospital to provide additional pro-bono services to poor patients and also provides funding to send medical teams into rural areas in Zimbabwe to treat impoverished people living in isolated areas.

 “The partnership between South Medical and MMI is making a real impact,” said Dr. Wazara. “This agricultural project is just another example of the substantial gains we are making here together. These are big achievements in our community,” he said.