Cimas’ mobile clinic a game changer

ANESU MASAMVU

Cimas Health Group’s white-and-blue mobile clinic is more than a vehicle — it is a manifesto on wheels, carrying a powerful message about access, dignity, and innovation in Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector.

First unveiled at the 2024 Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, the clinic has already begun redefining what it means to deliver medical services to the people.

Earlier this year, it embarked on a groundbreaking mission that took oral healthcare to the doorsteps of hundreds in remote communities across Matabeleland North, transforming the idea of healthcare delivery from static hospitals to mobile compassion.

The Cimas mobile clinic, a fully equipped, custom-built unit staffed with trained health professionals, embodies the organisation’s drive to deliver world-class healthcare solutions to all Zimbabweans, regardless of location or circumstance.

Cimas Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Vulindlela Ndlovu said the acquisition of the mobile clinic underscores the group’s commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible.

He explained that the clinic represents a transformative step in the healthcare delivery system, revolutionising the way services are provided by bringing medical care directly to communities regardless of infrastructure limitations.

That promise came alive in March when Cimas deployed the clinic in partnership with SmileStar, a United Kingdom-based dental charity, to offer free dental services to underserved communities in Victoria Falls and Hwange.

The outreach, which ran from March 10 at Chinotimba Clinic in Victoria Falls to March 20 at Hwange Miombo Safari Camp in Dete, saw 1,148 patients treated and over 2,500 teeth extracted. SmileStar Team Leader, Dr. Mitesh Badiani said the initiative aimed not only to provide immediate care but also to promote oral hygiene education to ensure long-term health benefits.

Beyond the clinical statistics, the outreach restored smiles, confidence, and dignity.

UK photographer Jason Howard, who documented the initiative, shared the story of a woman relieved of chronic pain after a simple extraction, symbolising the deeper emotional impact of the program.

Oral health is closely linked to mental well-being, confidence, and employability, and in communities where dental care can cost up to US$80 per extraction, such interventions are transformative. The mobile clinic’s outreach thus represents far more than charity — it is the practical realization of the constitutional right to health enshrined in Section 76 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution.

The initiative’s ripple effects went beyond healthcare, bridging medical outreach with tourism.

The SmileStar delegation, composed of 14 volunteer dentists and support staff from the UK, stayed at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Hwange Safari Lodge, combining humanitarian work with an authentic Zimbabwean experience.

Nigel Frost, Managing Director of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, said hosting the team aligned with their commitment to community support and sustainable tourism, noting that their efforts would leave a lasting impact on local residents. The dentists explored the majestic Victoria Falls, took helicopter tours, and dined at local establishments such as The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show and Dusty Road, becoming ambassadors for the country’s natural beauty and hospitality.

For the City of Victoria Falls, the mobile clinic’s arrival was both a relief and a revelation. Local health officials confirmed that their staff worked closely with the visiting dentists to ensure smooth operations.

Within days, about 400 people from the city and surrounding areas had received treatment ranging from extractions and gum checks to cleanings and even the provision of reading glasses. The collaboration between Cimas, SmileStar, and the city’s health department highlighted the effectiveness of partnerships between the public, private, and non-profit sectors in delivering tangible community benefits.

Residents, too, expressed heartfelt appreciation. A Victoria Falls local, Sbusiso, said, “That was awesome for the city; we are very grateful for what they are doing. God will bless them for the good job they are doing for the community. I’m very happy for my fellow citizens.” For many, the mobile clinic was more than a project — it was hope parked right in their neighborhood.

The initiative also drew praise from the government. Tafadzwa Muguti, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Devolution, described the program as a vital step in addressing healthcare challenges faced by local communities. He emphasised that Cimas with this outreach positions itself as one of the  few organisation to offer dental services at zero cost to citizens, noting the importance of public-private collaboration to improve healthcare affordability across Zimbabwe.

The success of the program lies not only in its statistics but in the model itself — a blueprint for how innovation, partnership, and compassion can converge to operationalize constitutional rights..

Zimbabwe’s healthcare system, comprising public, mission, non-profit, and private providers, still faces challenges of access and affordability. The Cimas mobile clinic helps close these gaps, reaching rural and peri-urban areas where infrastructure is limited. Its modular design allows for flexibility, enabling the delivery of services beyond dentistry, including vaccinations, primary care, and health education.

Every component of the outreach worked in harmony — international expertise, local collaboration, private innovation, and tourism support — all driven by a shared vision to bring health where it is needed most. The mobile clinic is not a replacement for hospitals or public facilities but a complementary solution demonstrating what is possible when technology and empathy meet. It serves as a proof of concept for mobile healthcare in a country where distance, cost, and shortage of resources often block access to basic services.

The results speak volumes. The 1,148 patients treated and 2,500 extractions completed are more than numbers; they are stories of pain relieved and dignity restored. Each treated patient represents one more step toward equitable healthcare delivery and the fulfillment of constitutional rights. For many, it was the first time they had received professional dental care, and for others, it was a life-changing experience.

UK dentist Dr. Rahul Doshi, who volunteered on the mission, described it as humbling. “I did not realise the amazing charity SmileStar is until I volunteered on this trip. To experience the satisfaction of helping people in pain is truly humbling,” he said. His words capture the essence of what the Cimas mobile clinic represents — an initiative that heals not just physically but emotionally and socially.

Cimas Health Group’s mobile clinic is, therefore, far more than a healthcare innovation.

It is a living symbol of what can be achieved when compassion, collaboration, and technology unite in pursuit of a shared vision of equitable healthcare. It demonstrates that with ingenuity and commitment, the right to health — guaranteed by Zimbabwe’s Constitution — can move beyond policy documents into the daily lives of citizens. In communities like Victoria Falls and Hwange, it has brought relief, inspired global goodwill, strengthened local partnerships, and illuminated a new pathway for healthcare delivery in Zimbabwe.

It is, quite literally, a vehicle of change — carrying not just medicine but dignity, hope, and thousands of restored smiles.