The Burnt Hills Ballston Lake (BHBL) Rotary Club in partnership with the Kusinta Lusaka Rotary, Zambia, recently completed a Global Grant in a southern province of Zambia aimed at saving the lives of mothers and children. Additionally, through grant funds, the clubs were able to restore and enhance a medical center’s water supply and provide fencing around the facility.
One in thirteen women die during child birth in rural Zambia. And, children two and under are ten times likely to die if their mother has. Thousands of children die in Zambia each year due to the loss of their mother. Additionally, more than 80% of Zambian never get dental care.
Members of the BHBL Rotary learned that a NGO, the Muchila Access Project, had expanded and renovated a medical building in a remote area of Southern Zambia, in a village called Muchila. The enhanced Muchila Health Center building needed medical instruments, equipment and supplies to become operational. The ensuing Global Grant was targeted at the focus areas of Maternal and Child Health, and Disease Prevention and Treatment, with a specific focus on dental health.
After fundraising and working with Project CURE, an organization the collects excess medical goods and ships them, eight and one half tons of targeted instruments, equipment and supplies were delivered to the Muchila Health Center on November 14, 2023. During the months of January 1- May 31 2024 communities reported the morbidity and mortality rate of mothers in 30 communities served by the center decreased, and 441 mothers received attended births in a fully equipped facility. It was also reported the Center had no birth related deaths since the arrival of our grant donations. During the same period, 1,580 patients received dental services, when no one in the region previously had.
Having spent less than what was budgeted and raised more funds than expected, and with inputs from Zambian health officials, it was decided, and approved by The Rotary Foundation, to repair and expand the water supply for the Health Center, and put up fencing around the facility to keep out animals and secure the area. These projects were completed at the end of May. In terms of water usage, it is reported that 800 patients visit the Health Center a month and they are accompanied by 300 family members. Additionally, a water kiosk was also placed outside the fencing to supply water to approximately 300 local villagers.
The leading official of the Muchila Access Project, and the lead project Rotarians from BHBL and Kusinta Rotary Clubs visited Muchila on May 11 and reported that all objectives of the Global Grant have been met.