Integrated Community Based Health Project Malawi (ICBHP)
Situation:
In the Kasungu District of Malawi, many people have limited access to basic healthcare services. Only 42 per cent of the population live within walking distance of healthcare facilities. The maternal mortality rate stands at around 349 deaths per 100,000 live births and the infant mortality rate at 44 deaths per 1,000 live births. Common illnesses include malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases. Healthcare workers lack qualifications in maternal and child health. People in rural areas in particular have very little access to healthcare services.
Objectives:
The health status of particularly vulnerable groups in the Kasungu district and the resilience of communities to health and environmental crises have been sustainably improved.
40 healthcare workers and 150 volunteers in maternal and child health have been trained. 80% of the target group are able to diagnose and refer cases of communicable and non-communicable diseases. At least 90% of the target group have used healthcare facilities at least once in the last six months, and 80% of pregnant women have received the four recommended antenatal check-ups.
- Training of 150 volunteers in a community-based health and first aid approach
- Training of healthcare workers and volunteers in the early detection and referral of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and mental health issues
- Operation of 144 mobile clinics at 3 locations
- Cooking demonstrations and nutrition education
- Awareness campaigns
Local volunteers are integrated into existing community structures; furthermore, the project aims to strengthen local structures and transfer ownership to local stakeholders through localisation initiatives. To this end, the mobile clinics will be handed over to the district council during the course of the project. The project is also in line with the Health Sector Strategic Plan III.
Special features of the project are the use of mobile clinics to reach remote communities the active inclusion of 6,882 with disabilities through barrier free activities and the use of the digital tool Kobo Toolbox for data collection
