We are delighted to celebrate the completion of the new Maternity and Child Health Unit. This life-changing facility at Chisamba Rural Health Centre will help provide safer births, better healthcare, and brighter futures for mothers, babies, and the entire community.

Chisamba District is situated in the Central Province of Zambia, and is home to around 145,000 people.

At the heart of the district lies a vital healthcare facility – the Chisamba Rural Health Centre. It plays a key role in
providing essential healthcare services and support to local, rural communities.

Chisamba Rural Health Centre

The challenges

The clinic serves a rapidly growing community of over 33,000 people. It receives around 720 pregnant women annually.

But the centre’s current maternity and infant care facilities were insufficient and inadequate. This compromised the safety and dignity of women who gave birth there, and also discouraged many from seeking skilled care by choosing to deliver at home. Post-partum haemorrhage and sepsis are amongst the leading cause of maternal mortality in Zambia. It continues to claim lives, especially in rural areas like Chisamba.

The centre had just one small delivery room. There was no dedicated ward for new mums and their babies. From the delivery room they moved onto a general female ward, increasing the risk of cross-infection.

The delivery room at Chisamba Health Centre

Mothers registering for under-five clinic

What we did with your support

Your support means that families in this rural community will have access to quality maternal and infant care like never before, with:

• Expanded maternity capacity – larger delivery room, plus a dedicated antenatal ward, and a postnatal ward. The expansion will increase the clinic’s capacity to handle up to 80 deliveries per month, significantly reducing the risks to mother and baby associated with delayed or home births.
• Dedicated consultation and clinic spaces. Including hosting under-fives clinic for follow-up and vital vaccinations positively influencing child development
• Essential hygiene facilities with toilets, showers, and sluice rooms for a clean and safe environment
• Private and secure waiting areas providing dignity and comfort for mothers and families
• Electricity connection to ensuring safe deliveries even at night

Plus we trained 12 young people from the local area to help build these facilities for their community. Their new skills mean new opportunities to find work, and to provide for their families. Congratulations to all of them on their hard work and dedication.

From vision to reality:

Thank you

Access to quality maternity and infant healthcare can mean the difference between life and death for mothers and new-borns. A safe place to give birth, skilled medical support, and proper postnatal and infant care help ensure healthier beginnings for families. Thank you for making this possible.

For latest updates on this project and all our other activities, please check out our News page.