The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has successfully concluded its Child Health Rural Outreach Programme in Mushindamo District, North-Western Province, extending essential maternal and child healthcare services to communities in hard-to-reach areas.

The outreach covered nine communities in the Luamfula area, namely Mapande, Mfwembe, Maumbo, Kankushi, Fikobe, Bintu, Baluba, Chisanga and Mulalashi, bringing a comprehensive package of preventive, curative and health promotion services closer to the people.

Under child health and immunisation, the team administered essential childhood vaccines, including BCG, OPV (1–3), DPT (1–3), ROTA (1–3), PCV (1–3), IPV (1–2), measles (1–2), HPV and malaria vaccines.

Additional services included growth monitoring, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming and nutritional assessments. Children diagnosed with malnutrition were also provided with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to support their recovery.

Maternal healthcare services comprised antenatal bookings and follow-ups, as well as family planning services, ensuring that mothers had access to essential reproductive and maternal health support.

The team also conducted health education sessions focusing on child health, nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention, while distributing soap and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to promote good household hygiene and prevent disease.

A particularly notable highlight of the outreach was the safe delivery of a 4.3kg baby at West 6, Luamfula Static Centre. The delivery was conducted by ZFDS Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) Judith Mwanza, demonstrating the critical role of skilled birth attendance and the importance of bringing essential maternal healthcare services closer to rural communities.

The outreach forms part of the Government’s continued efforts, through the Ministry of Health, to strengthen community-based healthcare delivery and improve maternal and child health outcomes, particularly among underserved populations.

Through its rural outreach programmes, ZFDS remains committed to bridging geographical barriers to healthcare and ensuring that no community is left behind.