Born from lived experience.

The story behind ZOST

In 1985, at fifteen years old, Joseph Muchesa drank water from a container contaminated with pesticide while at school. The stomach pain was severe, but medical care did not come quickly. He was taken from Sahumani Clinic in Honde Valley to Bonda Mission Hospital in Manicaland. The damage to his intestines was so extensive that surgeons performed a colostomy.

He lived with the stoma for a year before a reversal operation. In that year, people in his community called him a misfit and treated him as disabled. The experience was traumatic, and it became the reason ZOST exists.

Joseph began researching colostomies, ileostomies and urostomies, and learned how much could be done to help people in his situation. He saw the same problems again and again: no access to appliances, no psychological support, no reliable information, families and health workers who did not know how to help, and open discrimination.

Starting from nothing, he brought together people who shared the concern, including experts in health, management, resource mobilisation and law. With trustees Alexander Nyakunu and Rachel Muchesa, ZOST was established in 2017.

Vision

To lead in the provision of ostomy services in Zimbabwe.

Mission

To increase access to ostomy services by ostomate patients, enabling them to lead happy and healthy lives.

Our values

• Honesty. We account for what we receive and what we give.
• Inclusiveness. Support does not depend on income, age or where someone lives.
• Teamwork. Volunteers, clinicians and donors work as one.
• Confidentiality. A person’s medical situation is theirs to share.
• Quality. Appliances must be safe, appropriate and usable.