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Loving Hand Profile
Loving Hand
November 08, 2006

Loving Hand background
Loving Hand is registered with the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare as a Social Welfare non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The organisation started its operations in the western suburbs of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. Operations spread to the peri-urban centres that included Khami prison complex, Robert Sinyoka, St Peters and some Methodist villages. The organisation was motivated by the escalating number of patients and orphans in need of Clinical Home Based Care and nutritional assistance. Among the five members who started the organisation is an HIV / AIDS patient who is one of the members of the Loving Hand Board.

The five pioneers of the organisation started from humble beginnings, assisting one or two people infected by HIV. However, the work of these individuals reached other areas of the town and more people came forward for assistance. Church organizations and other members of the community also realized that it was important to set up structures to ensure that the organisation was open to more beneficiaries and other members who were willing to set aside time for assisting people infected by HIV.

Since 1998, Loving Hand has trained 535 community members who volunteered to give up time to assist.

Mission
To provide high standard service to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through Home based Care and supplementary feeding.

Vision
To be the leading Home Based Care and Orphan Care Service provider in Zimbabwe.

Loving Hand Board
Loving Hand is run by a six member Board who are responsible for giving guidance to the operations of the organisation. These Board members are elected from active members of the community who are highly qualified in the area of HIV/ AIDS.

The management of the organisation comprises of;

These are full time qualified staff members. The full time staff works closely with volunteer Field Officers who are based in the communities. These are the members who mobilize the communities in programmes implementation.

The Field Officers work with Kids Club leaders, Home Based Care Givers, Counselors, Volunteers and Peer Educators. This group of people report to Field Officers who in turn report to the Information and Projects Officer who reports to the Director who reports to the Board.

The Kids Club leaders, Peer Educators, Care Givers, Counselors and Volunteers work directly with patients and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).

Loving Hand activities
Loving Hand is currently involved in the following activities:

• Home Based Care (HBC) - since it started its operations, Loving Hand trained more 533 Care Givers. However due to movements and deaths, the number has drastically gone down The Care Givers are an integral arm of the organisation as they provide palliative care to patients. They also provide basic counseling services to children and other people in need.
• Orphan Care programmes- loving Hand is involved in assisting orphans and other vulnerable children. This current school term, Loving Hand paid school fees for 27 pupils. Other pupils have benefited from uniform donations and stationery. Loving Hand has also provided the orphans and vulnerable children with clothing and dry rations.
• Psychosocial Support- Loving Hand provides psychosocial support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children. This year 68 children have benefited from psychosocial support activities. In conjunction with Masiye Camp, a recreational institution near Bulawayo town, Loving Hand has managed to engage seven out of school youths in psychosocial activities. Loving hand has assisted in the formation of kids clubs in Pumula and Nketa. These clubs play a crucial role in Behavioral Change programmes.

Loving Hand accomplishments

• The organisation has managed to acquire a piece of land for an agricultural development project
• The organisation has managed to pay school fees for more than 300 children so far.
• The organisation has managed to provide palliative care to 987 patients in and around Bulawayo
• The organisation has established 5 kids clubs in Bulawayo where youths are engaged in various recreational activities
• Loving Hand intermittently gets food assistance that is given to patients and children.

Loving Hand partners

Visit the Loving Hand fact sheet

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