Each time Khadija makes the walk to the Zanzibar Seventh-day Adventist Dispensary, she knows what to expect. The path, the building, the voices that greet her—all are woven into the rhythm of her life.

She has been coming here for years, through different seasons and circumstances. There were visits marked by worry and others by relief, appointments that felt routine and others that carried urgency. Yet the dispensary itself has remained steady. For Khadija, it’s not simply a place to receive treatment but a space shaped by relationships built on trust, consistency, and the assurance of being heard.

In Zanzibar, healthcare is available through a variety of facilities, both public and private. Still, many patients continue to return to this small Adventist dispensary. Their reasons go beyond prescriptions and diagnoses. Here, people are known by name. Conversations come before consultations. Patients are treated not as cases to be processed but as individuals whose stories matter. 

On any given day, mothers arrive carrying children whose fevers have lingered too long. Pregnant women attend routine checkups to help ensure safe deliveries. Others seek care for respiratory illnesses, stomach problems, diabetes, or high blood pressure—conditions that require regular monitoring and long-term support.

In a low-income community like this one, consistent access to care can mean the difference between early treatment and tragedy. Minor illnesses left unattended can quickly become life-threatening. The dispensary serves as a vital bridge, offering stability and continuity in a setting where both are often scarce.

Inside the dispensary, Dr. Geoffrey Mabula moves from room to room with steady purpose. He listens carefully, examines thoroughly, and treats each patient with dignity and respect.

“The main reason our patients return is that we care about them,” Dr. Mabula explains. “We work for them, and we offer something more than medical services—love for the patient.”

This love is not expressed only in words, but in time spent, questions answered, and follow-up visits encouraged. Over months and years, something rare has been built here: trust. Patients return sooner when something feels wrong. They follow treatment plans more closely. They come back, not out of obligation, but because they believe they are safe and valued. 

The dispensary’s physical structure, however, is one of strain and limitation. When seasonal rains arrive, water leaks through the aging roof. Electrical and plumbing systems are worn and outdated. Temporary repairs keep the doors open, but they can no longer meet the demands of a growing community.

To continue providing quality, compassionate care, the dispensary needs more than patchwork solutions. It needs renewal.

Funds from the upcoming Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help support a full renovation of the Adventist dispensary, transforming it into a space that enhances safety, improves efficiency, and allows trusted relationships to continue and expand.

“When we rebuild this facility,” Dr. Mabula says, “our services will increase. The love people expect from us, and the good services we provide, will make them come in greater numbers and get adequate services.”

Thank you for giving to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Because of your generosity, hope can remain present and active in the lives of the people of Zanzibar.