Health Taskforce Minutes from Saturday October 25, 2008
Council for Zimbabwe
By public transportation. Take the #2 train to the Junction at Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues. Then take the Flatbush Avenue bus to Floyd Bennett Field. Get off when the bus reaches the Aviator Sports Complex. Once there call Mark Grashow on his cell phone (718-809-9510) and some one at the site will come and pick you up. Please wait underneath the red airplane in the parking lot.
The loading will start at 9 AM and should take about four or five hours. Any questions call Mark at 718-965-2560.
INTERESTED: email me at zimco...@gmail.com or call me: Dominic on 917 279 9148
Council for Zimbabwe
Health Taskforce Meeting Minutes
Saturday, October 25, 2008
In attendance:
1. Imani Anwisye
2. Dr. Ruwadzano Chikosi
3. Shingi Mangwiro
4. Charles Mandizha
5. Michelle Mhlanga
6. Dominic Muntanga
7. Dr. Ernest Simela
8. Natsai Zhou
Next Conference Call meeting:
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 2 pm EST.
Access Number: 1-309-946-5100 Access Code: 685810
Minutes Summary:
Welcome and Introductions
Dominic Muntanga welcomed participant. Following introductions the group revisited the action items from the last meeting.
Updates from Last meeting
- Shipment of Dental Supplies to University of Zimbabwe Dental School – Ruwa & Natsai noted that the total donations received for last week's shipment amounted to USD$520.00. The final cost of supplies, shipping and clearance was USD$546.00. It will take 5-7 days to process, ship and clear into Zimbabwe. Dominic and Ruwa are liaising with the Dental School for feedback via Council for Zimbabwe members currently in Zimbabwe.
- Action Item: Dr. Farai Charasika, who is currently in Zimbabwe will visit the university and take photos once supplies arrive at the university.
- The Dental School still needs supplies. Therefore we are trying to establish a support program for the Dental School in terms of dental supplies. Ruwa has started fundraising for next month's shipment.
- Action Item: Members and friends are to send donations for next shipment and make checks payable to Dr. Ruwa Chikosi
Dr. Chikosi
43-70 Kissena Boulevard, Suite # 12 L
Flushing, New York 11355
- Fiscal Sponsorship – Dominic is still searching for a potential fiscal sponsor for processing paperwork and donations. With regards to the African Services Committee specifically, the CEO is out of town. Dominic will touch base with her next week
- Dominic reminded everyone that the FAQ sheet on how to send charitable goods to Zimbabwe is being developed and has been posted on Google Groups for feedback. (The purpose of the document is to provide a comprehensive guideline on the practical and legal issues related to shipment and customs clearance of donations)
- Fundraising- Dominic and Mambi are editing the final versions of the donor letters. There are two versions: one geared toward Zimbabweans and another for non-Zimbabweans. The final versions will be posted on Google Groups by the end of the day Monday 10/27.
- Action Item: Dominic will set up a Pay pal account to facilitate the secure and traceable methods for receiving donations & funds transfer.
- Action Item: Shingi and everyone will review fundraising letters and use them to solicit gifts from friends.
- African Student Associations (ASA) at colleges – Dominic suggested that once we have the fundraising letter, we should contact current students at our Alma matter to request sponsorship or donations from ASA events such as annual cultural shows.
- Cause Marketing – Charles suggested that we look into cause marketing as an additional form of fund-raising. This is the same concept as the Red Ribbon campaign in which the Council establishes relations with corporate entities so that a percentage of revenue from the sale of products promoted by Council for Zimbabwe goes toward our initiatives/programs.
1. Action Item: Charles will follow up with Dominic to provide more information and relevant websites.
- Imani and Fungisai are working on a draft document to raise resources from Harvard Medical School and other areas, including churches, individuals or institutions.
- Selection of hospitals to support- Dr. Chikosi, Natsai, Fungisai and Mambi will develop the criteria for selecting hospitals/clinics to help with supplies and other support needed.
- Using technology to revive the health sector in Zimbabwe- Dominic, Charles and Mambi are exploring options on creating a program to use technology to benefit Zimbabweans in areas such as continuing education courses for doctors, nurses and other related professions. These training workshops however, are a long term goal that could be very effective in keeping the health personnel current.
House Keeping
Dominic invited members to use the Health Taskforce Forum on Google groups to enhance discussion of issues pertaining to health and how the diaspora can play a constructive role to revive health delivery. Members can invite anyone to join this group by visiting the page: http://groups.google.com/group/healthtaskforce/members_invite
Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/healthtaskforce
Business of the Day
- Leveraging institutional links to benefit Zimbabwe- Dominic is working on a potential collaboration between the Council for Zimbabwe and Swiss Teeth Abroad to source equipment and help the University of Zimbabwe Dental School as part of efforts to revive Dentistry in Zimbabwe.
- Container Shipment- USACF will be loading a container to Zimbabwe on Saturday, November 15th, 2008. As part of this consignment, the Council for Zimbabwe will help load some supplies. Two dental chairs have been secured; one will be donated to the University and another to a clinic in Bulawayo.
- Members were encouraged to add some medical supplies such as gloves to the shipment. There is a pdf list of the needed dental supplies on Google Groups. The loading will start at 9 AM and should take about four or five hours. It was noted that shipments should mostly consist of equipment and non-perishable goods such as gloves.
- Action Item: Dominic will follow up with Mark to clarify the capacity of the current container and space available in future consignments and the frequency.
- Hospital Selection criteria –Ruwa and Natsai are compiling selection criteria for medical facilities to send medical supplies and donations to. Members suggested selecting hospitals/clinics by: Location (e.g. by province), the number of patients served, and the capacity of the facility such as staff levels (doctors & nurses).
- It was noted that we currently have a list of facilities, but need a comprehensive database of hospitals capacity and current needs. One suggestion was that maybe we should conduct a needs assessment via people already on the ground or utilizing pre-existing institutions.
- Members emphasized the importance of not duplicating efforts and initiatives that already exist. Toward that end, it was agreed that the Council work with the Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals to select hospitals as well as link organizations/institutions that are already set up.
· Action Item: Farai Charasika is working on a template for assessing needs.
· Action Item: Natsai and Ruwa are compiling information that might be useful in streamlining the goals of this project.
· Action Item: Dominic will reach out to the United Nations, ZACH and not-for-profits to obtain information on current needs assessments on the ground.
- Group Communication - With regard to the needs assessment of the medical facilities, members noted that it would be useful to know the various backgrounds of the taskforce members in order for us to utilize their experience or networks. For more effective internal communication it was recommended that people should send info and contact info to Dominic so that he can forward it to anyone who requests it on a need to know basis. This is also a key part of our Group building and internal accountability. Members emphasized the need to improve internal communication and individual accountability on the status of tasks.
- Action Item: All members to send mini bio with contact information to Dominic.
Summary of Action Items & Commitments:
1. Charles will follow up with Dominic to provide more information on cause-related marketing initiatives that the Council for Zimbabwe can take advantage of to raise resources.
2. Dominic will setup a Paypal account, follow up with Mark to clarify how much space or capacity of container is available for medical supplies for future consignments and follow up with not-for-profit organizations pertaining to fiscal sponsorship. Furthermore, he will continue working on the FAQ Sheet on sending supplies to Zimbabwe and contact people in Zimbabwe on a needs assessment.
3. Farai Charasika will take photos once dental supplies arrive at the University of Zimbabwe and continue to work on a Needs Assessment template to be used by various council members who visit Zimbabwe in order to collect better information about needs on the ground.
4. Shingi and everyone will review fundraising letters and use them to solicit gifts from friends.
5. Natsai and Ruwa are compiling a list of criteria to be used in streamlining the health facilities to direct resources towards, including hospital capacity, staff and location.
6. All members will send their biographies, including contact information to Dominic at zimco...@gmail.com
7. All members and supporters will send donations for the next shipment and make checks payable to Ruwa Chikosi.
Close
In closing, Dominic encouraged everyone to stay committed to the cause of helping our beloved country and recruiting others to join in these efforts. He invited members to consider bringing a friend for the next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 3.56 pm.
Additional Information:
· Join the Council for Zimbabwe Facebook :
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7275155364
· Visit the Council for Zimbabwe Website:
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Dominic Muntanga
Founder, Council for Zimbabwe
Website: www.zimcouncil.org
Email: info...@zimcouncil.org
Fax: +1 917 591 0778