During the COVID-19 pandemic, stories emerged of health centres in rural areas lacking adequate personal protective equipment. ZNCF's national committee, led by Martha Mwendafilumba, decided to put into practice one of our core aims — to care for the caregivers.
A call went out to ZNCF members through WhatsApp groups, reaching both local members and nurses in the diaspora. Members contributed generously, enabling the purchase of surgical face masks, anti-bacterial hand washing soap, and face shields. These supplies were distributed to health facilities in Ndola and Kalumbila through Provincial Health Directors.
Something remarkable happened during the handover ceremony in Kalumbila. The local Chief, serving as Guest of Honour, called on his community to give towards ZNCF's ministry. A young girl named Shemaiah Malumbo donated fifty ngwee — about US $0.024 — from her piggy bank. This act so moved an NCF member in the diaspora that they pledged to fund Shemaiah's education through secondary school.
When schools reopened, ZNCF sourced thousands of reusable cloth face masks for vulnerable school children in rural areas. St Francis College of Nursing students distributed masks to a local secondary school and visited the local prison, blessing 365 inmates with masks, toiletries, and clothes after sharing the gospel.
The donations helped make ZNCF visible and made nurses feel valued and cared for. As Scripture reminds us, "Give and it shall be given to you, shaken together, pressed down and running over shall be poured into your lap" (Luke 6:38).
