COMMUNITY JOINS HEALTH CENTER TO SAVE LIVES

“In the past, I saw women suffering in the communities,” says Vuka Muleya. He continues, “Because of traditions, many women stay at home to deliver babies. When complications occur, such as heavy bleeding, the women do not receive proper care. This can be fatal for the mothers or their newborn babies. Muleya is from Kafue, a rural town in Zambia.

When Muleya found out about a meeting for volunteers at Kafue Mission Health Center, he jumped at the opportunity. In the past, the health center could not facilitate more than two women in labour arriving at their facility. One woman would have to be taken to a separate building. The lack of equipment and facilities posed significant challenges to properly care for patients in the small rural town in Zambia. In 2015, the health center received support from the European Union Millennium Development Goal initiative (MDGi) program, which aims to accelerate the reduction of maternal, neonatal and child mortality in Zambia.

With European Union funding, a standalone maternity wing was added including a 4 bed capacity antenatal ward, a 5 bed capacity labour ward and a 7 bed capacity post-natal ward. The center also received medical equipment and funding to train volunteers. The additional aid has not only helped the health centre, it has impacted the community.

Community members were asked to attend a meeting to learn about how they could help support the facility. This is when Muleya decided to become the Motorbike Ambulance Driver. Muleya, along with other community volunteers, are now working together with the center to ensure pregnant women and mothers are given proper information and care so that the women and their newborns are safe and healthy.