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Over 30 years of Care

Island Hospice provides leadership in the care and support of those living with HIV/Aids and life-threatening illnesses.

Bereavement care

Island Hospice is a leader in the field of bereavement work in Africa.

Palliative care

Island Hospice is a centre of excellence for palliative care in Africa.

Child care

Island Hospice is pioneering in the field of child carers and support for young people.

Island Hospice UK

We support Island Hospice & Healthcare in Zimbabwe in pursuit of its charitable objectives through fund raising and outreach.

Our professional services

Healthcare and support

We provide medical care and support through enhanced home care programs. Our professional teams provide palliative care and promote healthy growth and development in people.

Disaster and
crisis

Our community bereavement services offer pioneering assessment approaches to identify the impact of catastrophes, personal disasters and losses on vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.

Influential
people

We are recognised leaders in the field of health care policy, advocating on behalf of thousands of medically underserved children and provide continent-wide training programs.

We adapt and deliver services that matter today

Our priorities

HIV/Aids Care
Child care
Community Support
Training and advocacy

We adapt as the world around us changes. Thirty years ago we worked mainly with cancer patients and older people, now our work is primarily around HIV/Aids and children.

Our dedicated team of Doctors, nurses, specialists, social and health care workers ensure that our services are excellent and reach as widely as possible through direct provision, training and advocacy.

Over the years we have become pioneers in health care training, quality life interventions and pain assessment tools, continuously striving to improve health care and support across the region.

We provide more health care than any
other hospice in Zimbabwe

People directly supported since 1979

11800

1979 2019

People who will receive palliative health care this month

1300

Patients treated by community outreach team per month

407

HIV/Aids cases ongoing at any one time

1000

Our history

Island Hospice and Bereavement Service (IHS) was established in 1979 as the first Hospice in Africa. The initial objectives were to provide direct home-based palliative care to those with a life threatening illness and their families and a comprehensive bereavement service. Over the years, we have adapted to the changing face of the regional disease pattern, expanding our activities within the community and institutions (hospital, clinics, children's homes).

The dramatic increase in the need for palliative care services and the related need to train and build capacity among young carers, volunteers, care givers, church/community groups, doctors, nurses and teachers is now an essential component of our work.

The name 'Island' was taken from the words of John Donne (1571-1631), who expressed the joint involvement of each living person in the universal experience of death:

"No man is island entire of itself: Every man is a piece of the continent. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind"

Testimonials

Island Hospice Service resurrected me from death when I was very ill and now I am able to help and refer others who are HIV positive and sick to feel better and improve

– Lovemore Moyo (patient)

Had it not been for Island I would have been dead and buried already.. I would have been history but you keep us alive and going...

– Rural patient

I know what an excellent job you do and I can only imagine the hardship you endure to keep the service running

– Community partner

You are my saviour. You saved me yesterday from my pain, and now today you are here again...

– 90 year old patient with lung cancer

It was very good for me to listen to other peoples’ backgrounds because it’s not only me who lost my parents.

– Children (8-16) attending a grief workshop

The bereavement counselling has been my safe space....I can truly be myself and not have to wear my game face...I eagerly look forward to my appointments

– Widow 40 (wife died in childbirth)