Renovation of the Kizimkazi Clinic
WAJAMAMA is a women-led social enterprise-NGO hybrid built on the belief that initiatives aimed at creating the greatest social change must prioritize the beginning of life. Because each life begins inside of a woman, our holistic health care model primarily focuses on women and girls. Our mission is to improve the wellbeing of communities in Zanzibar by making holistic health care services accessible to women and girls of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
One of our core programs is Group Prenatal Care (GPC), which consists of a series of workshops for pregnant women at similar gestational ages––providing them with comprehensive clinical care, facilitated discussions on how to maintain a healthy pregnancy, and a strong community of peers. Our team has worked closely with a cohort of around 40 pregnant women at the Kizimkazi Mkunguni clinic and we are planning on reaching many more.
When we first arrived at the clinic, we found it in dire need of repair. The ceiling was moldy due to leakages and improper ventilation, and termites had slowly broken down the structural integrity of the building. The holes in the rusty roof rendered the clinic unusable during periods of rainfall, and the electric supply was damaged and faulty.
The women spoke up about the state of the clinic and their hope for a safer, more reliable environment in which they could receive health care services. With the financial support of the Trotula Fund, we were able to renovate the clinic. The mission behind the renovation was to create a sustainable, safe, and empowering space where Kizimkazi community members of all socioeconomic backgrounds could have access to high-quality holistic medical care. At WAJAMAMA, we believe that health care services, especially during pregnancy and the first 1000 days of life, should be provided in healing and nurturing environments.
Through our renovations we were able to replace the roof and re-do the plumbing and electricity. We also replaced the windows, doors, some equipment and furniture, and repaired the benches inside. The space has gone through a wonderful transformation and is now a center that can provide safe and accessible health care in a healing environment.
On June 23rd, 2022, we proudly handed the renovated clinic back over to the Ministry of Health. Many of the women from the original GPC cohort attended the opening ceremony and expressed gratitude about the impact this clinic will have on the health of their community.
We look forward to continuing our relationship with Kizimkazi through our Group Prenatal Care sessions and our Cervical Cancer Prevention Initiative.
Written & Published by Sarah Conant, WM Intern