The Zimba District Situation Analysis (2013) found the majority of people in Zimba suffer from weak purchasing power, homelessness and insufficient access to basic necessities such as education, food, clean water and sanitation. The project localities are characterised by widespread poverty, large dispersed populations, poor infrastructure, treacherous terrain and challenging weather conditions.
Since 2010 OCA have been working within remote rural communities in Zambia’s Southern Province (The districts we have and plan to continue working within include; Katapazi, Kanyanga, Mapatizya, Simwatachela, Sikuanzwe and Simango) alongside rural health workers and community health workers (CHW) which OCA also train. We recruit upwards of 21 international doctors per annum to come out to Zambia and deliver rural health clinics, train, and mentor CHWs and deliver public health education.
On Call Africa specifically seeks to alleviate strains caused by the chronic shortage of healthcare workers. The Zambian National Health Strategic Plan 2017-21 identifies challenges that restrict improved access to healthcare and improved health outcomes – including a shortfall of 63% in numbers of Clinical Officers and a shortfall of 51% of the required numbers of Doctors.
The national level shortfall is particularly acute within rural areas, as the spatial distribution of medical personnel is skewed towards the major urban centres. In Southern Zambia there are 16,000 people for each doctor (compared with 1 to 400 in the UK). This is in a context of high HIV prevalence, high infant mortality and morbidity. Infrastructure is underdeveloped, and rural Health Centres are up to 45km from villages with few transport options.
At the moment On Call Africa aren't currently accepting new applications from international volunteers.
