HIGHERLIFE Foundation has launched a ZW$100 million training fellowship for junior and senior medical resident officers employed at public health institutions in Zimbabwe.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Eligible for the fellowship are Joshua Nkomo Capernaum Trust alumni and non-alumni.
HLF said the $100 million fellowship will last for six months, with funding contingent upon fellows remaining enrolled in their programmes for that period and satisfying the stipulated requirements.
“The $100 million fellowship comprises a non-negotiable monthly subsistence allowance of $5 000 (five thousand Zimbabwean dollars) per doctor for a maximum of 2 000 doctors,” said HLF chief executive Dr Kennedy Mubaiwa in a statement.
“This amount will be disbursed monthly and is subject to unilateral review by HLF. The monthly subsistence will be disbursed to qualifying junior and senior resident officers on proof of being on duty at the specified institution for the duration of the month.”
The organisation will provide a smartphone as a tool of trade, a VAYA carpool voucher to access the hospital, at a maximum of 3 trips per day.
“Access to a ZW$10 million (Ten Million Zimbabwe Dollars) portion of this fund for. stethoscopes, patella hammers, uniforms and other diagnostic aids), Higherlife Foundation will also undertake to provide WIFI at the major teaching hospitals in Zimbabwe,” Dr Mubaiwa said.
Applications for this fellowship are expected to be in by December 2, 2019.
“Higher Life Foundation is an initiative of the Masiyiwa Family Foundation. The support for this initiative will come from the family and its donor partners. Other members of the Zimbabwean corporate and donor community are welcome to approach HLF with a view to helping. For the avoidance of doubt this initiative was not developed in consultation with potential beneficiaries or their employer. It is a unilateral initiative of HLF, as are all our initiatives,” Dr Mubaiwa said.
Dr Mubaiwa, however, stressed that the initiative was not from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe or Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe as neither of these publicly listed companies’ management or boards were even consulted on the matter.