In recognition of the International Day of Women’s Health, the work of Mulanga Rural Health Centre stands as a powerful example of how accessible community-based healthcare can transform the lives of women and families in rural Zambia.
Located in Shiwang’andu District, Zambia in Muchinga Province, Zambia, Mulanga Rural Health Centre is owned by the Diocese of Mpika and managed by the Religious Sisters of Charity. As one of the larger rural health facilities in the region, it plays a vital role in delivering essential healthcare services to a catchment population of nearly 12,000 people.
A lifeline for maternal and child health
Women’s health is at the heart of Mulanga Rural Health Centre’s mission. The facility provides comprehensive maternal and child health services, including antenatal care, safe delivery services through a functional labour ward, and postnatal care. These services are critical in ensuring that mothers receive skilled support throughout pregnancy and childbirth, reducing risks and improving outcomes for both mothers and newborns.
The centre also runs prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services for HIV/AIDS, helping to safeguard the health of both mothers and their babies and contributing to the broader fight against HIV in the community.
Essential services for women and families
Beyond maternal care, Mulanga Rural Health Centre offers a wide range of services that directly and indirectly support women’s health and wellbeing. These include outpatient and inpatient care, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), and a strong maternal and child health clinic. Outreach activities such as immunisation campaigns ensure that even the most remote families can access life-saving preventive care.
The centre’s laboratory services further strengthen its capacity, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment of common conditions.
In the past year alone, the health centre treated nearly 10,000 cases of malaria and over 7,000 cases of respiratory tract infections. Other common conditions include skin infections, bowel diseases, and dental problems. These conditions place a considerable burden on households in rural communities, especially affecting women and children who are often more vulnerable and face greater barriers in accessing timely healthcare.
Despite these challenges, Mulanga Rural Health Centre continues to provide care without user fees, in line with government policy on free primary healthcare. This commitment ensures that poverty is never a barrier to receiving treatment.
Mulanga serves its community through 19 outreach posts, with the furthest located 54 kilometres from the main facility. Monthly outreach activities bring essential healthcare closer to families, reducing travel burdens especially for women, who often carry the primary responsibility for childcare and household health.
The centre’s reach extends even beyond its official catchment area, as people travel from surrounding regions seeking quality and compassionate care.
The work of the Religious Sisters of Charity at Mulanga is grounded in a deep commitment to serving the poor and most vulnerable. The centre seeks to ensure that rural communities receive the same standard of care that might otherwise only be accessible to those with financial means.
This commitment is reflected in its guiding values:
- Reaching out to all, especially the most vulnerable, with justice and compassion
- Providing sustained, holistic and quality healthcare services
- Reducing the burden of disease within the community
- Promoting safe motherhood and healthy pregnancies
- Preventing childhood illness through immunisation
- Bringing healthcare closer to families through regular outreach services
Thanks to a grant support initiative from the Religious Sisters of Charity, significant improvements have been made at the health centre to enhance the care environment for both patients and staff.
The facility has been freshly painted, while tiles have been installed in the wards and corridors, creating a cleaner and more welcoming environment. Essential medicines and medical supplies were also purchased to strengthen patient care services. In addition, new curtains, mosquito nets, and pillows were provided to improve patient comfort and wellbeing.
The renovations and improvements have been warmly received by both staff and the surrounding community, who have expressed deep appreciation for the continued support.
As we mark International Day of Women’s Health, Mulanga Rural Health Centre reaffirms its dedication to protecting and promoting the health of women in Religious Sisters of Charity’s mission areas. Through maternal care, disease prevention, outreach, and compassionate service, the centre is an important life line for women and families in rural Zambia.
