The Phutura Land Restoration nursery has an attached Health Clinic. This is where our workers and those from surrounding remote areas can access an incredible resource for the community and people who have no way to get into a town to access any medical services or advice. On their monthly (or sometimes more often) visits the medical team offers contraception, an antenatal clinic, nutrition, first aid, cancer screening and medical referrals. Most Land Restoration nurseries now have a Health Clinic running alongside it or at least shared amongst a neighbouring nursery depending on logistics.

Over the last number of months our nurses noticed this young boy hanging around the clinic while it was serving the needs of the people. The 11 year old boy should have been in school, but seemed not to be. Our nurses had a chat with him to see who he came with and check on how he was. He told them he was there with his Grandmother and Aunt, and no, he didn’t go to school, in fact he had never even set foot in a classroom. “Zavier” (we have changed his name) also suffered from epilepsy and had many seizures. His grandmother was using traditional medicine to calm seizures and convulsions. She and his Aunt were doing their best in very difficult circumstances. Zavier’s mother died in childbirth and he lives with his alcoholic father and grandmother.

Our nurse Alepher spoke with his Grandmother, local Chiefs and the Head teacher of the school. Following a home visit, where she took notes to see where Wells for Zoë could assist in a delicate situation, the Grandmother was firstly offered medical support. Now Zavier is enrolled in Standard One and has a new school uniform and school items.

This story clearly demonstrates the benefits of our Outreach Health Clinics and how a situation like this can be noticed and help provided. Now on our Clinic day in Phutura, Zavier gets medication for epilepsy and to control seizures and convulsions.

The origins of these Health Clinics stem from the opening of our first Health Clinic on Wednesday 26th October 2022. This was a big day for the remote village of Kadikechi and a very big day for our workers, women in general and for WfZ. Credit goes to WfZ CEO John Coyne for his vision, drive and determination in seeing this project come to fruition, coupled with “our” nurse Alepher and supporters: the Priceless Planet Coalition. John is passionate about helping women live a better life, be it through education, jobs, skills and now through women’s health. Along with the remarkable young woman that is Alepher – a former Girl Child Student whose education was supported by WfZ followed by nursing college – they make a formidable team. Now married with 4 kids, Alepher works as a nurse in women’s health and brings her skills to these outreach clinics with a small team, on her days off. They work with the people through the culture, knowing engagement with family members, chiefs, and head teachers is the best way to help kids like Zavier – who would otherwise have fallen through the net, and had done so for many years.