Improving Health Facilities for Mothers and Children
The community of Chileshe Mukulu in rural northern Zambia has come together to improve the well-being of the children and mothers in the community by building their own school and health facility. The school is now staffed by a combination of volunteer and personnel from the Kasama District Board of Education. A four person organizing committee is leading the process to build up the health services in their community. Rural Action International has provided support to upgrade the existing growth monitoring point and is seeking funding for the construction of a health centre which will be staff by the Ministry of Health. Review the following photos to get a sense of what is happening and the ongoing need.
Conclusion
The upgrading of the growth monitoring point allows regular visits of health staff to carry out the Mother and Child Clinics in a better environment. It is a permanent building that will be part of the community health infrastructure going forward. Monthly services, especially during the rainy season, are not sufficient for the population of the area. As we read from a letter received 4 August 2014, since January there have been five maternal and nine infant deaths. You can see that a professional health centre will be the difference maker in this area.
The community has consistently contributed significant volunteer time, labour and material to mould and burn bricks and build facilities. They volunteer to organize the community through structures including a PTA, a co-operative and an organizing committee for a health centre. They have worked with local leaders and the ministry of health to plan and secure approval to develop a health centre that will be staffed by qualified employees from the Ministry of Health. Rural Action International has provided technical assistance through volunteers and funding to build health and education infrastructure as well as providing training and support on livelihoods, food security and nutrition for the women’s co-operative. Our priority is to secure funding here in Canada to make this happen in partnership with the community and the Ministry of Health in Zambia.
The upgrading of the growth monitoring point allows regular visits of health staff to carry out the Mother and Child Clinics in a better environment. It is a permanent building that will be part of the community health infrastructure going forward. Monthly services, especially during the rainy season, are not sufficient for the population of the area. As we read from a letter received 4 August 2014, since January there have been five maternal and nine infant deaths. You can see that a professional health centre will be the difference maker in this area.
The community has consistently contributed significant volunteer time, labour and material to mould and burn bricks and build facilities. They volunteer to organize the community through structures including a PTA, a co-operative and an organizing committee for a health centre. They have worked with local leaders and the ministry of health to plan and secure approval to develop a health centre that will be staffed by qualified employees from the Ministry of Health. Rural Action International has provided technical assistance through volunteers and funding to build health and education infrastructure as well as providing training and support on livelihoods, food security and nutrition for the women’s co-operative. Our priority is to secure funding here in Canada to make this happen in partnership with the community and the Ministry of Health in Zambia.