WORLD VISION ZAMBIA EMBARKS ON A CHILD HEALTH TARGET IMPACT STUDY

By MacPherson Mukuka

World vision Zambia in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and the has embarked on a five year Child heath targets impact study designed to measure the impact of world vision’s maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition programmes on the health of mothers, babies and children.

Speaking during the baseline dissemination meeting for the study held in Lusaka on 29^th September, 2014, World Vision Zambia, Maternal, neonatal and child health Regional Coordinator Martha Mwendafilumba says the study’s long time benefit will be that it will help mothers to develop lifesaving abilities especially during their pregnancy stage adding that world vision would want to see a community which is well vest with health.

Mrs. Mwendafilumba has however bemoaned the high number of illiteracy levels among the rural populace as well as the shortage of community health workers.

She said much as the Organisation has invested in production of health materials as way of communicating to the rural community, a number of them cannot read and therefore understanding the information remains a problem.

The Coordinator further stated that it is therefore inevitable and imperative to engage community volunteers who will try to mobilize the mothers in the respective community and share information.

Meanwhile, World Vision Zambia Associate Director for grants Acquisition and Technical Support Rose Zambezi says some of the interventions that the study will provide will include training of volunteers on the importance of the early access to antenatal care which they will later transfer to expectant mother.

Mrs. Zambezi says most mothers delay going to seek for antenatal services quite late due to lack of information.

She said the engaging community volunteers will definitely be of help because the volunteers are closer to the mothers.

Mrs. Zambezi further stated that engaging the community volunteers is one way of complimenting government’s efforts in delivering quality health services to the rural community.

The study covers four countries which include Cambodia, Guatemala, Kenya and Zambia.