SOLIDARITY TRUST of ZIMBABWE (SOTZIM) Inception Strategy A
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SOLIDARITY TRUST OF ZIMBABWE (SOTZIM) Inception Strategy A Summary http://sotzim.org 04 April 2020 Introduction The Solidarity Trust of Zimbabwe (SOTZIM) was established by a group of concerned citizens in March 2020 as a response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. It is founded on three (3) core principles of solidarity, impact and voluntary participation and draws on a wide array of capabilities to provide critical complementary actions for the national response. Our Vision To create a united front (business, civil society and government) in the response to the threat of COVID-19. The Challenge All the country’s designated infectious diseases referral centres are ill-equipped to deal with patients presenting COVID-19 symptoms. There is a shortage of basic hygiene requirements (e.g. hand sanitisers, soap), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare personnel. Adequate funding has not yet been secured for an effective response. There are several initiatives led by non-state actors to respond to the threat of COVID-19. These responses are critical and urgent. However there is a risk of duplicating effort or missing key areas of intervention. There is limited coordination of the different initiatives responding to threat. Our Purpose SOTZIM aims to ‘flatten the curve’ by making a significant contribution to the delivery of an effective national COVID-19 response which compliments Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) actions, by mobilising resources and volunteers, informing, scaling and supporting other citizen-led activities with a shared purpose. SOTZIM’s interventions include: Contributing towards renovating and operationalising hospitals in readiness for testing and treating COVID-19 cases An online platform to consolidate all the non-state initiatives to COVID-19 Securing and distributing PPE for frontline healthcare professionals Establishing partnerships to provide information and support pre-screening through an adequately resourced Contact Centre Assist with the collation, reporting and flow of critical information for planning and communication in the prevention and management of infection Actively fundraising to support all the interventions. The SOTZIM Response We are working across Zimbabwe and we have organised our intervention around five key pillars; 1 i. Collaboration- SOTZIM’s website (www.sotzim.org) provides information on; pandemic responses, a live tracker of pledges and giving, updated information on existing facilities. The platform will provide data from the screening and home-based care management call centre and the official figures of those tested and the results (see figure below) ii. First-contact screening via a 24-7 Contact Centre- The Contact centre will undertake first-line screening and provide citizens with accurate medical advice and treatment guidelines. Lines will be manned 24 hours, 7 days a week by nurses and doctors trained in WHO COVID-19 protocols. iii. Enhancing Testing and Treatment Centres- To increase the number of facilities offering testing and treatment, we have successfully negotiated an initial three (3) months lease with a Catholic Church owned hospital in Harare. In Bulawayo, we have partnered with an initiative that has secured the use of a hospital that is currently not in use. SOTZIM will work to secure the relevant equipment to make these centres are ready for testing and treatment. iv. Support to Frontline Medical Professionals- There is a shortage of adequate PPE. Local manufacturing capacity limited. Our approach is (i) to secure and import at least three (3) months’ supply of WHO certificated protective clothing; and (ii) partner with an identified local clothing manufacturer who can retrofit to manufacture the equipment as per WHO guidelines. v. Fundraising- Fundraising underpins all the other interventions and multiple streams have been identified to mobilise resources such as an initial cash or in-kind contributions from the Trustees, support from their established networks (locally and internationally), support from institutions, volunteers and well-wishers and leveraging our online platform for donations. Our target is to raise adequate resources (budget still under consideration) to ensure that we are able to adequately respond to the pandemic. About US, We have set up a team of twelve trustees under the chair of Nigel Chanakira. Other trustees are; Mucha Mkanganwi (Vice Chair) Heath Streak, Karen Mutasa, Sonja De Sa, Dianne Coots, Busisa Moyo, Greg Sebborn, Wilson Gwatiringa, King Darlington Masenda, Ingrid Landman & Tendai Murisa. For more details visit; https://www.sotzim.org/about-sotzim 2.