COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR ZAMBIAN COMMUNITIES

When The World Health Organisation announced that COVID-19 was a global pandemic Zambia like most developing countries was ill-prepared and in rural areas clinics and health posts had no form of protection for their health workers let alone the communities.

Since 2019 The Butterfly Tree has continued its support, despite there being very few cases at present. Three clinics receive monthly supplies of PPE and medical needs, others are helped as and when funds are available.

Not every community has a health facility and in the past four years The Butterfly Tree has built health posts at Sikaunzwe and Bunsanga, and most recently at Katondo. The people in Katondo were walking 16 miles to seek medical care, which is not always possible if you have COVID-19 or malaria. This resulted in unnecessary deaths.

We have just completed the construction of an entire new health post in this remote area of the Nyawa Chiefdom. The facilities include a clinic, two staff houses, toilets, a borehole (well) and a biodigester. We have also provided office furniture, beds, screens, lockers, BP machine, wheelchairs and many more items.

We are in the process of handing it over to the Ministry of Health who will provide trained medical staff and trained community health workers will provide vital support for the outreach villages. Women will be able to access pre-natal and post-natal care and be able to deliver their babies in a much safe institutional environment. Under-five clinics for vaccinations and assessment will take place at the centre, as well as malaria testing and easier access to HIV testing and treatment will be available. In the past people died unnecessarily due to the lack of access to medical attention. In the event of a further outbreak of COVID-19 the community will have readily available medical care.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree Health Projects in Zambia