Dutilh Church Makes $50,000 Donation to Build Medical Clinic in Mashambanhaka, Zimbabwe

On November 21, 2019, Dutilh Church’s leadership board allocated $50,000 from Dutilh’s Make Room capital campaign to support the construction of a medical clinic in Mashambanhaka, Zimbabwe. The clinic is the fifth of six planned clinics in rural villages of Zimbabwe.

“It is extremely gratifying to see the people of Dutilh reach out and support our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe,” said Ralph Duckworth, Dutilh’s TNC mission leader. “The rural clinics there are the first line of medical help for the villagers who live as far as ten miles away, and provide pre- and post-natal care for moms and their babies, vaccinations, health counselling, and of course, deliver the babies.”

Since 2013, Dutilh Church has had a relationship with The Nyadire Connection (TNC), a Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization that supports and sustains the Nyadire United Methodist Mission in rural Zimbabwe. Through that partnership, the Dutilh family has raised funds to help to build medical clinics in Chikwizo (2014), Nyahuku (2016), and Dendera (2018).

In July 2019, a mission team of 13 people from Dutilh Church, led by Duckworth, traveled to Nyadire. The mission team developed relationships with the people of Nyadire and offered financial and tangible gifts to Dutilh’s ministry partners.

“When the Dutilh Mission Team visited the Mashambanhaka Clinic this past summer, there were more than forty moms and children waiting in the 20’ by 20’ open-air shelter to be seen by a nurse,” Duckworth said. “I had forgotten how small the clinic is, and how difficult it is for the local people to get medical treatment. Now, through the generosity of the Dutilh congregation and others, the local people around Mashambanhaka will soon have access to basic health care.”

Drew Harvey, chair of TNC, explained, “The health clinics administered by Nyadire Hospital are remote and primitive places. The patients walk or come by oxcart and will tell you emotional stories about the urgent, lifesaving services each clinic provides.”

The original clinics were inadequate for the medical care people required, Harvey said, and so TNC began to rebuild them one by one. The dream to rebuild “took shape with no understanding of where the funds might come from,” Harvey said, “but we began, and along the way inspiring people stepped up and enabled completion of four clinics. And now the amazing people of Dutilh Church are directing an incredibly generous gift that allows this journey to continue with Mashambanhaka.”

The total cost of the medical clinic in Mashambanhaka is $267,000. TNC has raised $54,000 to date, including previous contributions from Dutilh Church. Dutilh’s $50,000 donation will provide the money needed for construction to begin on the clinic in 2020.

“Through this gift, Dutilh Church is making room for people to receive medical care that will save lives. Babies and mothers will survive difficult births. People with malaria will receive life-saving treatment,” said Pastor Tom Parkinson. “When we think about the Make Room campaign, it’s all about expanding our ability to love God, love others, and love to serve. I can’t think of a more perfect way to accomplish that purpose than to participate in building this clinic.”

Find out more information about Dutilh Church’s involvement with TNC or the larger TNC program.