It is time to initiate the retraining and reequipping of 501 CHWs who were trained in 2019 and 2020 in the above-referenced districts through Rotary’s Copperbelt Malaria Elimination projects, Phases 1 and 1A.  The timing of the retraining follows Zambia’s National Malaria Elimination Centre’s Guidelines. The training course will utilize the integrated Community Case Management + curriculum for refresher training.  The official Rotary host club is the Rotary Club of Ndola Mukuba (in close cooperation with the Rotary Club of Kitwe).  The official International Partner Club is the Rotary Club of Federal Way (in close cooperation with the Rotary Club of Aspen).

The CHWs have now been attached to their rural health facilities for almost 2-3 years.  They have strived to prevent malaria in their communities and to timely detect and treat this deadly disease using the knowledge from their original training and their ongoing experience as part of Zambia’s rural health system.  Early detection, at the community level, can dramatically reduce severe cases of malaria and death.  The CHWs are now testing and treating for more than 50% of all the cases in their districts, allowing the health facilities to concentrate on other urgent health concerns.  The CHWs also received training in diagnosing diarrhea and lung disease, cases which they often refer to the health facility to which they are attached.  At a ratio of 1 CHW per 500 residents, they provide last kilometer health care for about 250,000 Zambians.

The current budget for the Global Grant is $365,000.  This funding covers the costs of the retraining course (transport, lodging, meals, training materials and the trainers and support personnel); distribution of new phones for the data CHWs and the facilities; repairing of bicycles; new Rotary branded back packs; aprons, boots, Rotary shirts and caps and replenishment of PPE.  The budget also provides for Talk Time for the CHWs and facilities to report case data, which is entered into the District Health Information System 2 (SHIS2) and data audits at the CHW and facility levels.

Your support for this important health system strengthening project would be most appreciated. Your contribution will be matched 100% by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Thank you!