Chipatala cha pa Foni (CCPF)

A Lifeline for Family Health 

In remote and rural communities, distance often prevents people from seeking health care when they need it.  In a country like Malawi with one of the highest rates of maternal, child, and infant mortality in the world, knowing where and when to seek care is critical to reducing maternal and child mortality rates.  Chipatala cha pa Foni (CCPF) is a toll-free health hotline in Malawi that creates a link between the health center and remote communities. CCPF is staffed by trained health workers who provide information and referrals over the phone. Originally developed as a maternal and child health innovation, CCPF has evolved to become a general health hotline, covering  all general health topics including nutrition and sexual and reproductive health in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines. Through CCPF, women and caregivers can also sign up to receive personal text or voice reminders on maternal and child health topics specific to their month of pregnancy or their child’s age.   CCPF for Adolescents extends the platform for HIV prevention with youth friendly health services and information for sexual and reproductive health.

CCPF:

• Provides communities with greater control and opportunity to interact with the health system without having to travel long distances to the nearest health facility.
• Increases access to critical antenatal and postnatal care information
• Increases appropriate home and facility-based care