Improving Access to Healthcare in Rural Zambia

A few weeks ago we were asked by local rural health centres and village health volunteers to help them remind young people some important messages about malaria, and how they can reduce the risk of contracting this disease.

So our team of Community Health Workers and Doctors have been out in the village schools around Simango, Katapazi and Mapatizya Rural Health Centres helping young people learn about malaria. One simple but important messages is that sleeping beneath a mosquito net significantly reduces risk. During October we were able to reach 1,218 young people with this important message.

Before these sessions many of the children and young people knew that malaria could cause diarrhoea, dizziness, fever and headaches. They also knew that malaria is spread by the bite of the female mosquito.

Despite this, lots of them said that they weren’t sleeping under mosquito nets. Some said the nets were too hot, others found them to be itchy. In some households the nets were being used for fishing, or only old and ineffective nets were available for the children.

During our sessions they learnt more about how malaria is spread. They practiced putting up mosquito nets properly so that its more comfortable to sleep under them. They discovered that they could user the nets to cover water to stop mosquitoes gathering.

After the sessions on malaria we’re pleased to report that 70% of the participants said they are going to change their behaviour, keep their skin covered at night and sleep under those nets. There's still lots to be done, but we're glad that progress is being made in helping get these messages about malaris into remote rural locations.