Sustainable Development Goals
The Project
The Diocese of Chipata [Health Coordinator] has requested a Medical Doctor and Registered Nurse and/or Midwife to build capacity of local clinical staff [2 medical practitioners, 3 medical licentiates, and 1 clinical officer] through coaching and mentoring, whilst also attending to patients at Lumezi Mission Hospital. You will be performing duties as a way of practically sharing knowledge and skill development. The RN and/or Midwife will also share knowledge and skills with St Joseph’s School of Nursing School and Midwifery [currently 93 training nurses] as required. Lumezi Mission Hospital started as a rural health centre, has undergone various stages to now be a first level referral hospital with a bed capacity of 170. The hospital provides both curative and preventative healthcare in its catchment area of 1000 square kilometres. The catchment area has an estimated population of 70,000. Lumezi Mission Hospital has recently been assigned as a Phase 1 COVID-19 Vaccination site.
This placement is in a relatively remote area.
Feature image: Former President Edgar Lungu flanked by Sister in Charge Sr Mbaga during the tour of the Hospital after he officially opened a male surgical ward at Lumezi Mission Hospital in Lundazi District. Source.
The Location
Lumezi is a district of Eastern Province, Zambia. An area of 5,252 km2, with a population 127,604. The Eastern Province is one of Zambia‘s ten provinces. The province lies between the Luangwa River and borders with Malawi to the east and Mozambique to the south, from Isoka in the northeast to the north of Luangwa in the south. The provincial capital is Chipata. Eastern province has an area of 51,476 km2, locally shares border with three other provinces of the country and is divided into eleven districts.
The Challenge
- Approximately 61% of Zambia’s population live in rural areas, ensuring access to services in rural areas is central to achieving national health goals.
- In 2020, Lumezi district recorded the highest malaria incidence rate among all the 14 districts of Eastern province that is 713 per 1000 population.
- In spite of great progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it is still a leading cause of death in Zambia.
- Other major health issues include neonatal disorders, lower respiratory infections, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, ischemic heart disease and stroke.
- While the majority of Zambia’s population live in rural areas, the total number of doctors, nurses, and midwives in rural areas stands at 7677compared to 9285 in urban area
About You
Medical Doctor:
- A Medical Degree [MBBS or equivalent] and
- A minimum of 3 years specialist training
- Experience as a Hospital-based Doctor [desirable]
- Experience in clinical teaching and mentoring [desirable]
- Experience in surgery and obstetrics is required
- Skills and knowledge in the following areas would be an advantage: anaesthesia, knowledge of HIV/Aids, anti-retroviral and opportunistic infections, paediatrics and knowledge of tropical diseases and conditions.
Registered Nurse and/or Midwife:
- Bachelor of Nursing and/or Midwifery
- A minimum of 3 years-experience
- Rural/remote nursing experience [desirable]
- Skills and knowledge in the following areas would be an advantage: anaesthesia, knowledge of HIV/Aids, anti-retrovirals and opportunistic infections, paediatrics and knowledge of tropical diseases and conditions.
How You Will Help
First you must be willing to learn from the local community.
Over the first six months you are asked not to change anything or suggest a change to operations. During that six months you will take the time to learn language and cultural mores from a local counterpart willing to mentor you. You will also start a register of the strengths of the current personnel and the assets in the community/country that might be used to achieve the goals of the assignment.
You need to commit to clarifying why things are done the way they are rather than presuming from your own cultural lens to outline what is missing. So, you need to ask questions to enable you to learn from your hosts, rather than in ignorance make suggestions about how things can improve. Palms training will prepare you for this approach.
In the second six months you will be ready and better know which of your skills and what of your knowledge applies to:
- providing primary health care by conducting ward rounds, attending to patients at the out-patient department and conducting general elective surgeries
- develop the skills of current medical staff at Lumezi Mission Hospital
Note: The monthly living allowance enables you to live a modest local lifestyle. Based on the cost of living in a particular country, it covers food, your daily commute, communication and other local costs. It is not set to enable you to meet financial commitments at home, such as a mortgage or a personal loan. It will not cover the costs of eating out and other entertainment. Read more about what is covered in our FAQ.