Island Hospice: bringing comfort through palliative support

Image © Island Hospice

In a leafy suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe, a gentle glow fills the evening air as families and friends gather for a candlelit vigil. Some light candles in memory of loved ones, while others share heartfelt notes and stories. Hosted each year by Island Hospice and Healthcare, the vigil celebrates connection and offers a space for reflection and comfort.

Island Hospice, the first hospice centre established in Africa, has been pioneering palliative care and bereavement services in Zimbabwe since 1979. Its approach goes beyond symptom control, offering holistic care that addresses physical pain as well as emotional, social, and spiritual needs. This support complements routine healthcare and extends care to families and caregivers, recognising that illness affects entire households. Island Hospice provides pain relief through access to essential medications, psychosocial and spiritual support, and practical assistance. Through its Tuma services, Island Hospice helps with groceries, hygiene items, and the collection of prescriptions and medications. It also offers community counselling and serves as a respite centre, particularly during public holidays when other services may be limited.

For people living with serious health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic illnesses, or HIV/AIDS, this care reinforces resilience and fosters hope. “Island Hospice gave me dignity when I thought all hope was lost,” says one patient. “The nurses treated me like family.”

Recognising the urgent need for accessible palliative care in Zimbabwe, Island Hospice designed its model to ensure that no family is turned away because of financial constraints. To sustain this commitment, the organisation operates social enterprises including a nursing agency, a medical equipment hire service, and programme. The surplus generated by these enterprises then subsidises care for patients who are unable to pay.

Over time, the organisation has expanded its reach to ensure patients in rural areas are not left behind, delivering services through home visits and roadside outreach clinics, bringing care closer to those who need it most.

Building on decades of meaningful work done in neighbouring countries like Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, and South Africa, Island Hospice continues to share culturally responsive approaches to palliative care while strengthening regional collaboration.

The organisation has also broadened its focus to address emerging needs. It now offers mental health and stress management training to build resilience and coping skills, and has introduced a Young Carers Project, recognising the unique challenges faced by children and adolescents who care for ill or disabled family members. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Island Hospice is actively supporting the integration of palliative care into the public health system and strengthening referral pathways within hospitals.

Through care that goes beyond medical treatment alone, Island Hospice’s team of dedicated health workers are working to restore hope, uphold dignity, and strengthen communities.

Oak supports Island Hospice Service as part of our Zimbabwe Programme, which funds local organisations involved in supporting the hopes and aspirations of Zimbabweans, particularly those furthest from opportunity.