The Centro Salvatoriano de Saúde Alternativa, the Salvatorian Centre for Alternative Health, is located in Messica, 55 kilometres from the town of Chimoio. Here, health is not only understood as the absence of illness, but rather as the interaction of body, mind and soul. This holistic concept enables the sisters and staff at the centre to work with people/patients on various levels.

In their work, they focus on prevention through awareness-raising. The target group here is primarily women and mothers. They have a special responsibility in the family and society. Counselling and training is offered in the areas of health, nutrition and hygiene. The focus is on imparting knowledge about the use of herbs and medicinal plants and their use.

People come to the centre with a wide variety of needs. The centre offers counselling and guidance through to the clarification of illnesses such as: Malaria, HIV-AIDS, strengthening the immune system, detoxification of the body, rheumatism, lung diseases, fibroids, prostate, diabetes, high blood pressure, skin diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, cancer and others.

Five employees take care of the cultivation of medicinal plants, harvesting, washing, cutting, drying, identifying and packaging the various products. In addition, various products are produced, such as ointments for wounds, burns, massages, skin moisturisers, syrups for tuberculosis, asthma, flu, immune system boosters, apple cider vinegar, tinctures, multi-mixtures, clays and others. The sisters in the centre work together with the national health service and refer patients to hospitals for examinations if necessary.

The running costs of this health centre and for all training, awareness raising programs are high and financial support is needed to improve and expand the services.

For all measures, courses, medicinal plants and their processing as well as salaries, the centre needs an average of 1.045 U$ or 950 euros per months.