Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) Trainings in Zambia

By Eric Liswaniso, Program Manager, Malaria Partners Zambia 

Malaria Partners Zambia (MPZ) recently launched 2 projects to be implemented in Muchinga, Central and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia.

The Rotary-led Partners for a Malaria-free Zambia is a US$6 Million project aiming to train and deploy up to 2,500 Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Muchinga and Central province in collaboration with World Vision and PATH MACEPA. The project was a recipient of Rotary’s first ever Programs of Scale grant of US$ 2 Million through the Rotary Club of Federal Way, which was matched by World Vision and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

On the Copperbelt, MPZ launched Phase 2 of the Copperbelt project which will focus on training 1, 055 CHWs providing access to primary healthcare for over 550, 000 people in Mufulira, Kalulushi and Luanshya districts. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Seatle, the project will build on the success of the Copperbelt Phase 1 project which trained a large number of CHWs in Chililabombwe, Masaiti and Mpongwe districts on the Copperbelt between 2018 and 2020.

In just one month, the PMFZ has trained over 500 CHWs in Muchinga and Central provinces representing 20% of the targeted number of 2,500 CHWs in the 2 provinces and in the process saturating 2 of the targeted 10 districts. The Copperbelt Phase 2 project on the other hand has so far trained 129 CHWs out of the 387 earmarked for training in Mufulira. Another 120 is being trained starting June 14^th in Mufulira.

The successful implementation of the project so far has been underpinned by the effective collaboration between the partners and the participation of Rotarians from various Rotary Clubs in Zambia. In typical Rotary fashion, the Rotarians have been actively supporting the trainings and can be seen helping with registration, field activities, etc. Graduation ceremonies also present a big opportunity for Rotarians to spread the word about the good that Rotary is doing around the world and in particular, the support to end Malaria in Zambia through Malaria Partners Zambia.