Safe care for patients
Almost every day, a baby is born at the provincial hospital in Kabwe. But not every birth goes to plan. If complications occur, it is all about experience, fast decisions and well-functioning teams. SolidarMed is investing in decentralised health training. This story about a student nurse and a baby named ‘blessing’ shows how this decentralised training is making a difference.
A baby’s cry echoes through the maternity ward of the hospital in Kabwe. For a moment, time seems to stand still. After a prolonged labour, the mother had to deliver her baby via emergency c-section. Student nurse Eppiey Mukuka was quick to recognise the danger signs. As part of a multidisciplinary team, she knew exactly what to do and the patient was swiftly prepared for surgery. Everyone can now breathe a sigh of relief as both mother and child are doing well. For Eppiey Mukuka this is a special moment. It was the first obstructed labour she had attended as a student.
So when I was in the maternity ward, I felt confident that I could do it.
Eppiey Mukuka, nursing student
“When I finished my theoretical training, I would still have forgotten a few steps,” says Eppiey Mukuka, a student at Chitambo College of Nursing. She is completing the practical part of her training at the hospital in Kabwe. “In the Skills Lab we were able to practise the procedures over and over again and were supervised by various trainers. So when I was in the maternity ward, I felt confident that I could do it.”
This confidence is key in precarious or risky situations. There is a shortage of qualified healthcare staff, particularly in rural areas of Zambia. Traditional training models often focus on urban centres, while provincial hospitals and health centres outside the cities struggle with staff shortages. To counter this problem, SolidarMed promotes decentralised and hands-on training for nurses, midwives and doctors. By the end of 2025, 7,000 nursing students had already enrolled at ten training sites – one in each province. Over 1,000 graduates successfully completed their training.
When Lulia Bwalya went to hospital to give birth to her first child, she was full of worry. Many stories of bad experiences in healthcare facilities had made her anxious. Added to this was the fear of the procedure as the baby ended up being delivered by caesarean section. “I thought the staff would be unfriendly,” she recalls. “But I was guided through every step. Everything was explained. The nurses took their time and looked after me well. Eppiey Mukuka was friendly, listened to me and took good care of me and my baby,” says Lulia Bwalya. “When I felt lonely, her manner gave me strength.”
Learning before things get serious
SolidarMed has established one of four Vocational Centres of Excellence at the hospital in Kabwe. The modern training centres feature lecture theatres and digital learning spaces, where students, nurses, midwives and doctors come together to practise procedures, refresh their knowledge and learn from one another. This multidisciplinary mentoring strengthens collaboration between the various professional groups and improves quality of care throughout the hospital.
The key difference for students is that clinical situations can be simulated in a realistic manner before they take place at the patient’s bedside. “In the past, we had to perform many procedures for the first time directly on patients,” says Eppiey Mukuka. “Now, we practise first on the manikins in the Skills Lab. There, we’re allowed to make mistakes, we’re corrected, and we learn about the latest procedures. After that, we go to the ward.” Dr Casius Chitambo, a doctor at Kabwe Hospital, sees the impact of this training on a daily basis. “When someone encounters a woman having seizures or suffering from severe bleeding for the first time in a real-life situation, panic can set in,” says Dr Chitambo. “Those who have already practised such situations react more calmly and in a more structured manner. And this ultimately has an impact on patient safety.”
When training reaches families
For Dr George Chipulu, Senior Medical Superintendent at Kabwe Hospital, the Vocational Centre of Excellence is far more than just a training facility. “In the past, we had to demonstrate many procedures, such as inserting catheters, directly on patients, and accidents could happen during practice,” he says. “Today, students can practise on highly realistic manikins first. This means that they arrive on the wards with better skills.” The investments are not limited to buildings. Digital infrastructure and e-learning programmes developed in collaboration with local partners give healthcare professionals access to up-to-date specialist knowledge and continuous professional development, even in remote regions. This expertise benefited the Bwalya family. Chola Bwalya, the baby’s father, explains:
“It’s our first child. I was very scared. When I heard that my wife and baby were healthy, I was overjoyed.” The baby is called Lipalo – which means ‘blessing’ in English. “After waiting two years for a pregnancy, my wife and I decided that we would name the child Lipalo, because even before the baby was born, we were constantly showered with blessings such as a new position after I’d lost my job.”
When I heard that my wife and baby were healthy, I was overjoyed.
Chola Bwalya, Father of newborn Lipalo
Following Lipalo’s successful birth, Eppiey Mukuka hopes to continue working with pregnant women in the future. Ideally in rural areas, where qualified professionals are in particularly short supply.
Student accommodation for safe learning
An important component of the decentralised training model in Kabwe is the newly created student accommodation, located just 700 metres from the provincial hospital and offering space for 100 students. SolidarMed and its partners have invested not only in modern learning and simulation centres, but also in safe accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the training sites. The currently six hostels enable students to reliably attend theoretical lessons, practical placements and study sessions. Short distances enhance safety for a female dominated student body and reduce the time and cost of the daily commute.
