PCPM’s project will directly benefit the 12,000-strong population of the Luangwa Valley, which – due to its remote location – is not properly covered by current health services. The valley is served by only one rural health center, equipped with only 7 hospital beds and staffed only with one community health worker. Therefore the ratio of qualified health personnel to the population of 1 : 12,000 is vastly below WHO’s minimal standard of 1 : 400.

Provision of healthcare services is also plagued by shortage of equipment and disposables. The only piece of equipment in the health center is a fridge for vaccines (coldchain fridge). The facility is dramatically low on all other supplies, ranging from dressing kits, latex gloves, basic medicines such as painkillers to medical equipment. The facility has no proper lighting, which forces the medical staff to use hand-held pocketlights (torches) when assisting during night-time deliveries or undertaking urgent surgical interventions.

Project objectives

Project’s objectives were identified during two assessments in 2009 and numerous consultations with, among others, local health staff, Nabwalya Chief, and the Chilonga-Nabwalya Catholic Mission, our partner in implementing the project.

PCPM’s project is focused on enhancing the healthcare services to the 12,000-strong population of the Luangwa Valley by:

• Enhancing the capacity of the Nabwalya’s primary health center with provision of basic drugs and consumables, provision of relevant equipment, and installation of solar lighting in the main rooms;
• Enhancing the human resources capacity by provision of training for Community Health Workers and Traditional Birth Attendants.

Project location

PCPM’s project is located in the Mpika district in northern Zambia, being considered one of the least-developed areas in the country. The area is hardly accessible, being located between the Muchinga Ridge and Langwa region. 116-km road leading to a valley where Nabwalya is located in passable only in the dry season and in any season is accessible only by 4x4 vehicles. During the rainy season (November – May) the area becomes virtually cut off from the rest of the country.


View Projekty zagraniczne PCPM 2009 in a larger map
 

Project beneficiaries

PCPM’s project will directly benefit the 12,000-strong population of the Luangwa Valley, which – due to its remote location – is not properly covered by current health services.

Activities

PCPM’s project is focused on enhancing the healthcare services to the 12,000-strong population of the Luangwa Valley by:

• Enhancing the capacity of the Nabwalya’s primary health center with provision of basic drugs and consumables, provision of relevant equipment, and installation of solar lighting in the main rooms;
• Enhancing the human resources capacity by provision of training for Community Health Workers and Traditional Birth Attendants.

Project partners: Chilonga-Nabwalya Catholic Mission

Funding

Implementation of the project has been made possible thanks to the generous donation of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the amount of 150 922zł (USD 50,000 approx.)