By Natasha Maimuna Banda, Rotary Club of Samfya
When I joined the Rotary Club of Samfya in November 2024 — a club newly chartered just a year earlier in 2023 — I was drawn in by its passion and commitment to service, especially in the fight against malaria.
Not long after, the club secured a $10,000 grant from Malaria Partners International for a Malaria Elimination Project focused on improving the use of insecticide-treated bed nets in Samfya District. As Treasurer for both our club and the grant, I became deeply involved.
In May 2025, a new opportunity arose through the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, which invited our club to send a volunteer for an integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) training in Mansa. After a brief club meeting, I was selected to represent us. The training brought together community health workers from Luwingu District and gave me firsthand insight into the vital role they play in rural health care. I watched them learn, practice, and embrace their responsibilities with real passion — bridging the gap between remote communities and formal medical services.
It was heartwarming to see how seriously they took their work, yet how playfully they referred to themselves as shing’anga — “doctor” with a small d — a title they wore with pride. Watching them confidently use Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, administer treatments, and earn the trust of households was nothing short of inspiring.
This experience deepened my appreciation for the power of grassroots health initiatives and reminded me of Rotary’s unique role in saving lives and building healthier, more resilient communities.
This report summarizes the baseline survey results from Samfya District, Zambia, under the “Malaria Elimination Project – Enhancing Insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) Utilization for Malaria Prevention in Samfya District of Luapula Province Zambia.”
The research was carried out in 8 health facilities within Samfya district namely kasoma-bangweulu clinic, Chinweshiba clinic, Kasanka clinic, Chisanka clinic, Nkungu clinic, Mugulube clinic, Kabongo clinic and Kasanka rural health clinic which are all rural health facilities and the selection was based on the population size, malaria incidence and participation in the mass ITN distribution of 2023 by the government.
The total targeted households in the 8 selected communities’ catchment areas were 2206 and Our data show very high malaria awareness and net familiarity (over 90% know what malaria is and have heard of ITNs), reflecting successful public health education. The Rotary club of Samfya and Samfya District Health Office (MOH) co‐sponsor this initiative, aiming to translate knowledge into increased ITN use and reduced malaria risk.