ZAM 01 - HEALTH IS A TREASURE

The project takes place in Mongu, western province of Zambia, 600 km away from the capital Lusaka. Mongu is a small town surrounded by overcrowded barracks and more or less distant villages. It is located on the plain of the Zambezi River which at some point of the year, during the rainy season, floods and forms a lake. In this period the population grows rice and vegetables and lives by fishing. Then towards the end of the dry season, the population struggles to find food and there are cases of malnutrition and consequently cases of various diseases. Here too, climate change is being felt and the rainy season is getting shorter.

The Comboni Missionary Sisters have been present in this area since 2004. One of the challenges they continually encounter is the demand for medicines and additional food from the sick, whose local clinics fail to meet their needs. The same problem is encountered in Mongu prison where prisoners receive only one meal a day and live in overcrowded cells. This means that many are suffering from tuberculosis.

The Comboni Sisters have formed a team of health personnel who try to support the cause and change the situation in the prison. Through a health education you want to improve the health of the sick, both in prison and outside. In addition to tuberculosis cases, there are HIV/AIDS, skin diseases, elephantiasis, malnutrition, tropical ulcers, paralysis, disability, mental disorders, etc. There are also many cases of broken legs and arms due to falls from the truck when prisoners are taken out to work. Because they are overcrowded, they often fall from the vehicle as it goes. There are also several cases of children falling from trees as they climb to look for fruits to eat.

They also try to respond to emergencies when they encounter cases of dog bites, fire and water burns. In prison you plan to give once a week lessons in health education in small groups and individually. Sometimes you have to take sick people to the hospital. The health team is constantly moving to assist the sick, buying medicines and additional food.

• Strengthen the immune system of vulnerable people to avoid other diseases, this through medical care, supplemental food and health education.
• Respond to emergencies such as dog bites, fire burns and boiling water, fractures due to accidental falls.
• Give classes in health education to prevent diseases.

Direct Beneficiaries: 200 patients 

Indirect: 1200 family members and the community

Referent sister for the project: Sr. Maria Eugenia Solis Sanchez