Chikombedzi Mission Hospital Support
Chikombedzi Mission Hospital was established in the late 1940s by Free Methodist missionaries in the remote southeast corner of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. The hospital played a significant role in providing healthcare for over one hundred thousand people while sharing the gospel of Jesus with those it served. Over the years, the hospital has expanded from its humble beginnings in a small building to a large complex providing out-patient and in-patient care for various medical conditions. A busy obstetrics department delivers over 100 babies a month. The hospital also serves as the referral center for 14 rural clinics, hosts an HIV clinic, has a center for youth and provides daily chaplain visits for all patients.
Since the country achieved Independence in 1980, Chikombedzi Hospital has continued to function under the authority of the Zimbabwe Free Methodist Church but has faced numerous challenges. In 2023, a water project brought water to the hospital from the Mwenezi River through a six-kilometer-long pipeline. A solar-powered pump was embedded in the river to provide sand-filtered water. In addition, new water storage tanks (with 60,000 L total capacity) were purchased and installed. The opportunity to have reliable running water has greatly encouraged the staff.
Because ceilings were in disrepair and creating hazardous conditions due to animal infestation, a project in 2024 repaired ceilings with materials impervious to rats and bats. Currently, the hospital’s most significant need is for electricity – a large and reliable solar-powered system. Despite the challenging circumstances, the continued goal is to move the hospital toward sustainability.