ZimCan Health Society

Working together for healthier people in Zimbabwe and Canada

Building capacity in health and healthcare in Zimbabwe and Canada by growing synergistic relationships producing value for everyone participating.

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Who We Are

Normal people with a passion for improving health.

We are based in Canada with an interest in health especially in rural areas.

WHY we do what we do...

We believe all people have the same intrinsic value, no matter where you are born.

Working with each other to be healthier is worth it for everyone.

HOW we do what we do...

Building relationships and connections between relatively low resource environments like Zimabawe with relatively high resource environments like Canada by building on strengths of everyone involved and honouring the value brought by everyone.

WHAT we do...

Work in rural district hospitals and rural health providers in Canada on projects that build capacity in both systems and identifying opportunities for twinning services between Canada/Zimbabwe rural health service providers.

Our Reach.

How we're making an impact in Zimbabwe

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Children & families served

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Service Sites

Volunteers helping carry
out our global mission

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Core Programs in 65
countries and regions

How we're helping

Our Featured Projects

Lupane

Binga

Karanda Mission Hospital

Volunteer Stories

2017 Trip

Dr. Bret Batchelor, Enhanced Surgical Skills (ESS) GP, recently visited Karanda Mission Hospital in rural Zimbabwe and had the opportunity to interview Dr. Paul Thistle, a Canadian OB/GYN who has worked in Zimbabwe for the past 26 years.

Listen to the podcast

2016 Trip

“Over the course of my global health elective in Zimbabwe, I was exposed to many medical educational opportunities that are much less prevalent in Canada, particularly with respect to diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and learning about the natural history of various diseases when patients presented with advanced illness. The importance of addressing the social determinants of health was also clearly demonstrated and I am grateful for all of the resources and governmental support we have available for health care in Canada. I also feel lucky to have had the opportunity to experience such a beautiful country and interact with and learn from the locals and the entire Zim-Can-Health team” – 2016 medical student

“It is hard to imagine a better opportunity for medical students and residents to learn first had the importance of the social determinants influence health and the impact that global climate change has on health. We saw patients with cholera because dirty water was the only option to no water, children starving because of drought and famine related to climate change, and women dying from AIDS because, with no other economic opportunities, selling their bodies was the only way for them to eat. These lessons are not only relevant for low-income countries. They are transferable underserved communities in Canada such as inner city, rural/remote, and aboriginal health. Furthermore, our strengthened understanding of these important issues will help us be better advocates for our patients and communities at large” – 2016 resident

2015 Trip

“I think this was a really important experience as I gained a perspective of what life is like in Zimbabwe first hand from a Zim native. I got to ask so many questions and learn about the history and current issues in the country. They taught me about their culture, food and activities. It was amazing” – UBC Medical Student

“I couldn’t have asked for a better clinical experience at Karanda. Due to the unfortunate circumstances of healthcare, I witnessed stark differences between first and third world medicine that I will remember forever. Diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria were ubiquitous and seeing the consequences of inadequate or improper treatment and their complications was both frightening and extremely worthwhile. At times I was given tremendous responsibility in the assessment and care for these patients, and I recognize the value of these experiences to move forward confidently as a new physician” – UBC Medical Student

“The variety of encounters with the Zimbabwean health care system gave me a full scope of perspectives and helped me better understand the strengths and challenges. I am interested in public health and health care systems — this experience gave me a very interesting picture and something that I wasn't expecting. Working and meeting with a variety of health care providers across health care centres from community health providers, nurses, midwives, physicians at community to regional to tertiary care centres — gave me a perspective that was well rounded. Seeing how medical students are trained, what the resources are available was also part of this overall picture. Altogether, this has shown me the complexities of the health care system and allowed me to compare to Canada, inspiring me to continue looking at health care systems and where I can be involved in change in the future” – UBC Medical Student

“I think the mix of both community and hospital is very valuable as a med student and I would encourage students to do both. Yes, the hospital stuff certainly puts us out of our comfort zones, but personally I think that is often where the best learning occurs” – UBC Medical Student

View 2015 Group Trip Blog