Located in Ward 4, Hwedza, Gotora/Skimpton Clinic has long been a cornerstone of maternal care in this resettlement area. Since its official opening in 2008, the clinic has served countless mothers, providing essential antenatal, delivery, and post-natal care. However, the conditions were far from ideal.

The absence of a dedicated antenatal unit forced expectant mothers and new mothers to share the same limited space, resulting in overcrowded, uncomfortable conditions. With just four beds, three of them narrow and worn, with only a few blankets to go around mothers often found themselves sleeping on the floor or in cramped offices.

One of the clinic staff recalls, “It was tough. We tried our best, but having both antenatal and post-natal patients in the same unit was not safe or comfortable, especially for newborns.” The atmosphere was bleak, the care limited, and the comfort non-existent.

That all changed in 2023 when SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe Family Strengthening Program (SOSCVZFSP) arrived in Ward 4. The community, eager for change, presented their development plan to the organization, highlighting the urgent need to improve maternal care. With the support of SOSCVZFSP, the clinic’s newly built antenatal facility underwent a remarkable transformation in 2024.

Today, the clinic is almost unrecognizable. A once stark and uncomfortable space is now a warm, welcoming haven for expectant mothers, thanks to the generous contributions of SOSCVZFSP. The new facility is now equipped with: Double beds with comfortable mattresses, fresh linen, and soft pillow, warm blankets to provide coziness and comfort, bright, cheerful curtains that offer privacy and a touch of warmth, and a brand-new TV and OpenView decoder to educate and entertain expectant mothers.

This transformation is more than just cosmetic. It is a profound change in the way care is delivered, and the impact is being felt by every mother who walks through the doors. Mothers now rest in comfort, their anxiety eased by the soothing environment. As one mother shared, “It feels like home here. I feel at peace knowing my baby will be born in a place filled with warmth and care.”

The staff at Gotora Clinic are equally moved. “We are so grateful for this support,” says one team member. “It was never safe for newborns to be in the same room as expectant mothers, but we didn’t have the means to change it. Now, with this dedicated antenatal space, it’s not just about safety—mothers feel cared for in ways they never did before.”

But the transformation does not stop here. With renewed hope and ambition, the clinic staff are already planning future improvements, including a kitchen for expectant mothers to prepare their meals and installing ceilings and lockers for additional comfort.

The kindness and generosity of SOSCVZFSP have created ripples of change, spreading joy and compassion throughout Ward 4. Gotora Clinic is now more than a healthcare facility it is a sanctuary of hope, empathy, and care, where new mothers and their families can feel supported during one of the most important times of their lives.