Where We Work | Program
Kwitanda Community Health Program
From 2008-2019, VillageReach led a program to increase the reach of health services at the community and health center levels by building capacity of community health workers.
Country
MalawiSolution
Supply Chain for CHWsTopic
Community healthStatus
CompleteUPDATE: In 2019, Kwitanda Community Health Project was transitioned to MaiKhanda Trust. LEARN MORE
Background
In 2008, VillageReach introduced the Kwitanda Community Health Project (KCHP) within the Kwitanda catchment area of Balaka District in Malawi. The original goal of the project was based on a needs assessment and aimed to reduce incidence of malaria and diarrhea specifically. A 2014 evaluation of the project revealed despite intervention incidence rates for these diseases remained stable. It also uncovered people were not seeking treatment for these diseases, primarily because of distance to the nearest health facility. Therefore, we expanded our scope of work.
How it
Works
Resources
2015 Kwitanda Evaluation
2014 Kwitanda Evaluation
Kwitanda 2012
Kwitanda 2011
Kwitanda 2010
We are proud of the strong local partnerships we have built over the past decade that enabled us to improve the Kwitanda community’s access to quality health care. We are confident that MaiKhanda is the best partner to carry on the relationships and ensure KCHP continues to develop as a model implementation of Malawi’s National Community Health Strategy.”
– Emily Bancroft, VillageReach President
Program Impact
Kwitanda’s impact between 2008 and 2019 included:
Improved access to health services
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- In 2018, nearly 96% of women deliver their babies in a health facility, compared to 91% of women in rural areas nationally.
- In 2018, nearly 76% of women in Kwitanda receive four antenatal care services, compared to 49% of women in other rural areas nationally.
Improved health seeking behavior
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- 96% of children with symptoms of acute respiratory infection sought treatment at a health facility compared to 77% of children in other rural areas
- 96% of Kwitanda women who delivered in the last two years reported that they had attended a postnatal visit at a health facility, compared to 48% of women in other rural areas
Partners
Government
- The Malawi Ministry of Health and Population
- Balaka District Health Office
- Kwitanda Health Center
Technical Partners
- MaiKhanda Trust
Donors
- Johnson and Johnson Foundation
- Seattle International Foundation
