Reasonable access to medical help is urgently needed

 

Some of the factors limiting reasonable access to Zambian healthcare include: 

• local availability of medical staff and medicine, 

• difficulties and distances of travel to receive care,

• services for emergencies and for home-based care,

• use of outpost medical services within a village, and

• waiting times to receive care within a clinic or outpost.

 

Healthcare in the Community villages is limited to responses to emergencies and to life-threatening illnesses. Emergency healthcare service is severely limited by the lack of trained health persons near the villages, by the unavailability of emergency medical supplies, and by the long and difficult roads to reach the Mtendere Mission Hospital.

 

The Zalaunga Community villages consist of the core villages of Chivundi, Bhandera, Mashonga and Zalaunga. Outlying villages that would share the Health Post include the villages of Mwinga, Katowola and Shapeyo on the south side of the Kafue River. On the north side of the river, in the Lusaka Province, the villages of Chisakila and Maluwe are included, but not limited to those that could share the Health Post.

 

Mashonga Village itself, however, has recently benefitted from the installation of a well, to provide fresh drinking water to villagers who previously relied on the Kafue River for their water. From the missionary Charles Hill's blog of November 18, 2014:

 

This past week we were able to drill another well with funds provided by a donor through Healing Hands International. We shifted to the area of Zalaunga; specifically the village of Mashonga. Mashonga is a village of just over 2000 souls. It is less than a kilometer from the Kafue River but the river is full of crocodiles and is extremely dangerous as a source of water. But, if no other water is available people must run that risk to survive.

 

Another view about health hazards afecting rural village life is described in Expat Arrivals' website for travellers visiting in or moving to Zambia.

 

"Zambia is in the malaria belt and also a TB zone, so a doctor should be consulted before departure about appropriate medication. An essential purchase in Zambia is a mosquito net. These nets cover the bed at night and have a significant effect in reducing mosquito bites. Cholera and dysentery are also common, particularly during the rainy season. Zambia also has a very high prevalence of HIV infection and unprotected sex should be avoided.

 

Emergency services are inadequate, especially outside of Lusaka. However, it is hoped that recent plans by the government to purchase a fleet of new ambulances and training for emergency response teams will improve the situation."