In Zimbabwe, a volunteer hospital network is in the process of setting up radio stations to provide psychosocial support services to patients in the country’s hospitals.
Hospinet is a volunteer Christian organisation and coordinator Reverend Patrick Mhizha said at the recent launch of the Civic Coalition on Health in Zimbabwe that his organisation will establish radio stations at Parirenyatwa General Hospital in Harare and at Mutare General Hospital.
“We are planning to mainstream health issues in our programming where communities and patients will discuss various issues, including HIV and AIDS as well as sexual and reproductive health issues, just to mention a few,” said Reverend Mhizha.
Community participation
Mhizha is a professional broadcaster as well as a pastor. He said: “The radio station aims to bring experts on board to discuss health issues with patients and communities. We will install cables from our studios to the hospital wards and there will be listening and communicating devices, where patients can listen to and participate in the discussions.”
Hospinet will minimise the participation of professional broadcasters in the initiative and encourage the participation of members of the community.
The network was founded in 1999 and provides tailor-made internet hospital broadcasting as well as counselling and chaplaincy services to patients, their visitors and hospital staff in all hospitals in the country.
Funds needed
“Hospinet provides access to broadcasting, entertainment, companionship, emotional, spiritual and psychosocial support to the sick in hospitals,” Mhizha said.
It has also been revealed that Hospinet is looking for funding to set up production and transmission studios for Hospiradio Pari at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
Mhizha said: “We invite individuals, corporates, government departments and non-governmental organisations to consider partnering us to make this vision a reality in our country.”
