How Citizen Voice and Action Brought Healthcare Workers a Home

Mukuyu Rural Health Centre, serving a population of 5,914 people across 21 villages, once struggled with inadequate staff accommodation, significantly impacting healthcare service delivery. The nurses assigned to the clinic had no place to stay, forcing them to sleep in the maternity wing or commute long distances from town. This lack of proper housing not only affected their well-being but also compromised patient care.

Through World Vision’s Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) initiative, a participatory advocacy approach, the community of Mwanachingwala took decisive action to address this challenge.

Matongo Kigan, Secretary of the Mwanachingwala CVA Working Group, recalls the earlier struggles.

"Before CVA, we used to call for community meetings and ask each chiefdom to contribute money to fill the gaps we identified. However, this approach lacked consistency, and most projects failed due to irregular contributions," Kigan explains.

In 2021, a turning point came when the CVA group conducted a monitoring exercise at Mukuyu Rural Health Centre and identified the urgent need for a staff house. Their structured advocacy efforts led to the approval of funding from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and by 2022, construction began.

Daphine Meleki, one of the affected nurses, shares the hardships she and her colleagues endured.

"I used to sleep in the maternity wing because there was nowhere else to stay. It was very difficult, and the situation was unhygienic as five of us shared the space. Later, some nurses opted to move to the nearest town where they could find houses, but commuting from town was another challenge because of the long distance. Service delivery was affected," she recounts.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the CVA group continued lobbying for additional support. Their persistence paid off, as the government, in collaboration with World Vision, facilitated the construction of a staff house to ensure healthcare workers had proper accommodation. This development significantly improved service efficiency, as medical personnel could now be readily available to attend to patients.

Oliver Mulomba, the District Chairperson for Mazabuka District, acknowledges the critical role of CVA in connecting communities with government structures.

"As part of the decentralization policy, financial resources have been allocated to communities, including funding through the CDF. However, identifying and prioritizing community needs has been a challenge. Fortunately, World Vision has trained community members to advocate for development projects that address real needs," Mulomba states.

Kigan underscores how the CVA model has brought transparency and accountability to local development efforts.

"Before, there was no one to hold accountable for stalled or incomplete projects. Now, through CVA, lobbying is done in a structured and transparent manner, ensuring that funds are used appropriately. This model is non-political, and we will continue using it to drive change in our communities."

As the Mwanachingwala community continues to witness tangible improvements, they remain hopeful that sustained advocacy and collaboration with stakeholders will further enhance healthcare services and other essential infrastructure. World Vision, through its CVA initiative, has empowered communities to take ownership of their development, proving that collective action and structured engagement can lead to meaningful and lasting change.