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Precious's Story
A mum of two from Mpika district, rural Zambia
Precious Chipasha is a mum of two children aged 2 and 10. She’s a farmer in Mpika District, rural Zambia, and she raises her two children on what she earns from growing vegetables and maize.
When her children are well, life moves on; she sells the produce she grows in her local community, and sometimes travels to town to sell in larger markets. She saves what she can to buy fertiliser for the next season.
“My children are happy and free spirited with everyone. They enjoy playing with their friends.”
But when malaria hits, everything stops.
Like many families, that has happened to hers often. In Zambia, every region is at high risk of malaria. For children, that risk is even greater – they are particularly at risk of developing severe symptoms which can be fatal.
Precious knows that malaria is not just a fever.
In communities like hers, malaria is a constant threat which drains families’ time, income, and stability.
When Elizabeth fell sick with malaria, Precious watched as her symptoms got worse. She was so worried her appetite disappeared and she wasn’t able to continue her farming and daily routines.
“What worries me if my child doesn’t get treatment or medicine is that I become helpless. I think those who don’t seek medical help and get medicine on time just become stuck, because as a parent, when you notice that your child is unwell you [know you ought] to take them to a [doctor] so that they can be attended to.”
That’s why access matters.
“It is easy because Community Health Workers are right here within the community, making it easy to take our sick children for examination and treatment at any time, no matter how late it may be. And for that, we are grateful.”
Amref supports Precious’ community by training the Community Health Workers to spot the symptoms of malaria, diagnose them accurately, treat mild cases at home, or refer more serious cases to the local health centre
“The introduction of Community Health Workers is a very good initiative. Through them, we’ve been able to learn how to take and administer [antimalarial tablets] as a full course without fail. We are grateful. May they also extend this help to other communities.”
Precious is grateful for the support she received to ensure that Elizabeth fully recovered from her malaria infection – and that she stays safe from future infection. She says with that support, malaria is less of a risk to her family’s health and future.
“What I wish for in my life is for my business to excel, my eldest child to complete school and become a nurse, and for my youngest to get educated and become a teacher, so that they can lead good lives in the future.”
All images © Amref Health Africa/Steve Kagia
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