ZAMBIA
Neighborhood Health Committees Take Charge
In Zambia, Neighborhood Health Committees (NHC) have been formed to address individual communities' needs. In Utokota the NHC consists of 16 members - 5 men, 7 women and 4 youth.
Their accomplishments include:
- Construction of a two-room mud/thatch building which is used to house essential medicines for the community health worker (CHW) as well as a place to hold their meetings.
- Communal rice paddy that supports the NHC and community needs, with a portion going to CHW and his family. The rice paddy was part of the Community Action Plan developed by each NHC in Zambia.
- Completion of all of the steps in the Community Action Plan.
- Purchase of two oxen and a plough for the community.
Members of the NHC say they have been encouraged by the capacity strengthening from HCP and feel more focused and successful since HCP has started working with them.
On a visit to the NHC area, the HCP/Zambia chief of party observed that they seemed indeed to be working more for the community good rather than individual good. The NHC members agreed, saying that they cannot afford to have jealousies between one another and that unless they pull together they will not be able to improve their lives as they know the solutions must come from within.
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Note about materials: Some of the materials and resources listed on each page are available in their full form, others are represented by image or citation only. For more information and resources, go to www.jhuccp.org
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