August 24, 2015
Zambia
Zambia deals with one of the world's highest maternal, infant and children under 5 years of age mortality rates – especially in its least developed part, Western province. The lack of skilled health workers, poor equipment in maternity hospitals and low awareness about health care possibilities among the rural communities are to blame. In the Mongo district, Caritas Czech Republic managed to achieve surprising results in the field of maternal and child care.
Thanks to the efforts of Caritas Czech Republic staff and its Zambian partners, namely Provincial Medical Office, Lewanika General Hospital, Lewanika School of Midwifery, and District Community Medical Office, the mortality rate of children under five years of age was reduced significantly in the Mongo district in Western province – from 145 deaths per 1000 live births in 2011 to 13.8 deaths by the end of 2014.
The mortality rate of newborns in Mongo decreased in 2014 compared to 2011, from 69 to 4.5 deaths per 1000 live births. Furthermore, in 2014, 131 women out of 100 000 women in labor died during childbirth compared to 470 women in 2011. It is possible though that some of the cases in rural areas were not included in the Medical Office statistics for the Mongo district. Even so, we can still acknowledge the significant success in the field of maternal and child care.
Caritas Czech Republic’s staff also successfully adapted to the country's pre-existing concept of local volunteer groups from the village taking care of local pregnant women's health and subsequently of their newborn babies' health. These Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAG) went through additional training and strengthening of their own ranks. So far, the new study program, Registered Midwifery at Lewanika School of Midwifery, has not yet been opened as planned but the program has been approved by the General Council Of Nurses' Commission in Zambia. It will be available for the first round of students as early as next year.
