Central Province Health Office

30/09/2026

STRENGTHENING SMAGs THROUGH SELF-AWARENESS, VALUE CLARIFICATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

Central Province Health Office, working closely with Chisamba Town Council with support from Rocinantes, continues to strengthen the capacity of Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs) to effectively engage communities and contribute to improved maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.

A Communication Skills Training for SMAGs was conducted for Safe Motherhood Action Groups drawn from Chikonkomene and Mwapula Rural Health Centres in Chisamba District.
The training focused on three important areas: effective communication skills, value clarification and self-awareness.

Through effective communication, SMAGs are equipped to listen actively, communicate health messages clearly, demonstrate empathy, address misconceptions and build trust with individuals, families and communities.

These skills are particularly important when discussing sensitive issues such as pregnancy, childbirth, family planning, adolescent health, gender-based violence and timely utilisation of health services.

Self-awareness enables SMAG members to understand their own emotions, attitudes, strengths, weaknesses, beliefs and communication styles. Understanding oneself provides an important foundation for effectively understanding and supporting others.

Value clarification allows SMAGs to reflect on their personal values, beliefs and attitudes and recognise how these may influence their interactions with others. This is particularly significant when addressing sensitive health and social issues where community members may have diverse beliefs, experiences and perspectives.

The training therefore goes beyond teaching SMAGs what to communicate. It strengthens their understanding of how to communicate, how to listen, how to understand themselves and how to engage others with respect, empathy and confidence.

By strengthening these competencies, SMAGs can serve as more effective community champions who listen, educate, encourage, refer and support individuals and families to make informed decisions and seek appropriate health services.

The training is being supported by Rocinantes, whose contribution is helping strengthen community-level capacity and improve the effectiveness of SMAGs in reaching and supporting mothers, families and communities.

Such partnerships demonstrate the importance of collaboration between the Ministry of Health, communities and cooperating partners in strengthening health promotion and improving access to essential health information and services.

When we communicate better, we connect better. When we connect better, we empower communities. And when communities are empowered, they can take action for healthier families.

Story by: Mercy Mulwanda Chisi

28/09/2026

AVoHC-SURGE training to strengthen multisectoral health professionals in emergency preparedness and response happening now in Kafue!
The two2) weeks training has gathered more than 50 participants from all the 10 provinces of Zambia.

27/09/2026

AHF Central Region and Central Provincial Health Office Train Hostel Health Promotion Ambassadors at Mulungushi University
AHF Central Region, in collaboration with the Central Provincial Health Office, has trained Hostel Health Promotion Ambassadors at Mulungushi University as part of the AHF Central initiative on “Building Resilient Health Systems – A Self-Sustaining Model for Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Universities and Colleges.”
The initiative follows recent health outreach activities conducted at Mulungushi University and Kwame Nkrumah University by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Ministry of Health in Central Province. These outreaches highlighted important gaps in social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) and access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services among young people.
One of the key challenges identified was that some health information and services were not consistently reaching students where they live and interact on a daily basis. Peer-led health promotion services were also limited, making it difficult to maintain regular access to information and support across the universities.
Although different stakeholders periodically visit the institutions to provide health services, continuity after outreach activities remains a challenge. The University Lead Student Health Promotion Ambassadors have been playing an important role in student representation and campus-wide coordination, but relying on a few central points of contact makes it difficult to adequately reach students living across different hostels and residential halls.
To help address these gaps, volunteer Hostel Peer Health Promotion Ambassadors have been identified and trained. The approach decentralizes health promotion activities by bringing SBCC and SRH information, services and essential commodities closer to students within their residential areas.
The Hostel Health Promotion Ambassadors will complement the work of the University Lead Student Health Promotion Ambassadors by providing a stronger link between students and available health services. They will support peer-to-peer health education, promote healthier behaviours, share accurate information, encourage timely access to services and help address some of the fears and barriers young people experience when seeking sexual and reproductive health services.
The model is intended to build a more sustainable, student-led health promotion system that continues beyond individual outreach activities and strengthens access to reliable health information and services within university communities.
Bringing health promotion closer to where students live, learn and interact.

23/09/2026

23/09/2026

Permanent Secretary Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi Commends Oral Health Progress in Zambia.

20/09/2026

ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE COMMUNICATION FOR BETTER HEALTH

Central Province Health Office in collaboration Central Region AIDS Healthcare Foundation conducted a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Outreach at Mulungushi University in Kapiri Mposhi District on Saturday 19th September, 2026.

The outreach was supported by AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION (AHF) led by Ms. Felisters Nalungwe the Prevention Program Cordinator, MOH team at Mulungushi University Health Center and Senior Health Promotion Officer Ms. Mercy Mulwanda Chisi.

The SBCC outreach activities included: dialogue meeting with Union Executive team, mass sensitization at the compass, Health education sessions, counseling, screening, and referrals.

The outreach provided a platform for fruitful engagement with the Student Union Executive that included:
1. The Student Union President Mr. David Banda
2. Ms. Merina Phiri Hon.Minister of Health
3. Student Health Promotion- Ambassador Mr. Jason Siwale

The advocacy team discussed how Central Province Health Office with implementing Partners can best address social behavioral and health-related challenges affecting students in line with National Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2022-2026 of reaching out with high impact SBC strategic interventions in congregate settings of high learning institutions.

The team deliberated on a university student model of approach, which was discussed and agreed upon. This model will help to reach every student with timely health messages and promote infomed decision making for equity of access to cost-effective quality healthcare services for all students.

The team recorded a high turnout of students seeking various services at the information desk. Central Province Health Office is committed to collaborate with all partners and stakeholders to ensure that all students are healthy and productive and networking for future collaborations.

Article by Mercy Mulwanda Chisi
Senior Health Promotion Officer