Women’s Month Spotlight

Prisca Mbewe on March 5, 2026

This Women’s Month, Access to Health Zambia celebrates the incredible women whose passion, leadership, and dedication continue to drive positive change within our organization and the communities we serve. Among these remarkable women is Brenda Phiri, one of our longest-serving employees and a member of the Senior Leadership Management Team, whose commitment and leadership have played a vital role in advancing our mission.

Brenda’s journey with Access to Health Zambia (A2HealthZ), formerly known as CMMB, spans 14 years. A nurse by profession, she holds a Degree in Guidance and Counselling and a Master’s in Public Health. Her career began when she was deployed to Luapula Province as a Provincial Coordinator under the Zambian Led Prevention Initiative. Over the years, her dedication and leadership have seen her take on key roles, including managing the Community Rising Project, and leading the SAFE (Support an AIDS Free Era (SAFE) – Access to Health Zambia) and DREAMS Projects (DETERMINED RESILIENT EMPOWERED AIDS-FREE, MENTORED AND SAFE WOMEN (DREAMS) – Access to Health Zambia), working closely with communities to improve health outcomes and strengthen health systems.

Today, she serves as the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Technical Advisor, providing technical guidance to enhance care for women and children across supported facilities.

Reflecting on her long tenure, Brenda has drawn inspiration from the organization’s purpose, finding motivation in the positive difference it makes every day.

“For fourteen years, I have been driven by the mission to deliver locally sustainable, quality health solutions to women, children, and their communities. This work is more than a job to me; it is my passion.”

Her transition from hospital nursing to the Non Government Organization sector allowed her to address health challenges on a broader scale, supporting programs that reach entire communities.

“One of my most memorable experiences has been working on the CHAMPS Kanyama Project (CHILDREN AND MOTHERS PARTNERSHIPS (CHAMPS) – Access to Health Zambia), where I witnessed a significant reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths following our support to Kanyama Level One Hospital and surrounding health facilities. Recording zero maternal and neonatal deaths in 2025 is a milestone reflecting the collective efforts of health workers, community volunteers, and supporting partners,” Brenda shares.

As the world commemorates International Women’s Day 2026, Brenda calls on women to lift each other up. “When you empower a woman, you empower an entire generation. This year’s women’s day theme, ‘Give To Gain’, challenges us to recognize that every act of support whether through mentorship, education, opportunities, or guidance doesn’t just benefit the individual woman; it strengthens families, communities, and society as a whole.”

Transforming Lives and Families Through Savings Groups

Prisca Mbewe on February 9, 2026

Keeping children within loving and supportive families is essential for their growth, development, and well-being. Family separation often arises from economic hardship, unemployment, or other challenges that make it difficult for parents to provide for their children. Recognizing this, Access to Health Zambia, through its Kusamala Project, initiated community savings groups in Kanyama, Chawama, Misisi communities in Lusaka, and Makululu in Kabwe District. These groups aim to empower women financially, enabling them to support their families and prevent children from being separated due to poverty.

One such success story is that of Helen Phiri, the treasurer of the Chiyambi Savings Group in Chawama community, a community-led initiative of 30 women established under the Kusamala Project. Helen joined the group in 2023 during one of the most challenging periods of her life. Her husband had been unemployed for nearly eight years, and meeting basic family needs was a daily struggle.

“There were days I did not know how we would manage; life was really hard, and I struggled to provide for my children,” Helen recalls.

Through the savings group, Helen accessed financial support and started a rice-selling business. The profits from her business have helped cover household expenses and ensure that her children receive education, proper nutrition, and a stable home environment.

“Through the savings group, I was able to start a rice business, which continues to provide a reliable income for my family. This has enabled me to raise all my children under one roof and support their needs every day,” she shares.

Helen also benefited from the Kusamala Project’s financial literacy training, which transformed her approach to money management. She learned budgeting, saving, and long-term planning skills that have allowed her to take control of her finances and make confident decisions for her family’s future.

“The financial literacy training changed my life. I learned how to manage money wisely, plan for my family, and invest in opportunities that can improve our lives,” Helen explains.

Beyond immediate financial relief, Helen has used her savings to purchase building materials for a plot of land she and her husband had long owned but could not develop due to lack of funds. She looks forward to the upcoming savings group share-out, which will allow her to complete the project and further improve her household’s living conditions.

“I am very grateful to GHR Foundation and Access to Health Zambia through the Kusamala Project for this initiative. It has not only helped me financially but also strengthened my family. My prayer is that they continue empowering women in other communities, especially those who are struggling as I once was, so they too can build better lives for their children,” she adds.

Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026

Prisca Mbewe on January 1, 2026

As we see the end of 2025 and the start of 2026, it is the perfect moment to pause and reflect on a year marked by both the remarkable achievements and challenges that we have faced at Access to Health Zambia (A2HealthZ).

The last year tested us in many ways from navigating through a shifting funding landscape to adapting to this new environment and landscape. We lost some programs which in some cases meant saying goodbye to colleagues whose dedication has been central to our work. Yet through it all, our staff, volunteers, and partners remained committed and passionate, enabling us to reach thousands of lives, empower families, and strengthen communities across the country making them and ourselves more resilient! Despite these challenges, 2025 has also been a year of impact and innovation. We are proud to highlight just a few of the achievements from our work:

Through the Children and Mothers Partnership (CHAMPS) in Mwandi, over 22,000 pregnant women received antenatal care and delivered safely, while more than 122,000 children under five benefited from early and consistent follow-up care. Meanwhile, CHAMPS Lusaka reached 130,388 individuals with essential health services, including 19,793 pregnant women and 110,595 children under five. Notably, 18,559 pregnant women delivered in health facilities with skilled health personnel, and 2,307 women received their first antenatal care within 14 weeks reflecting strengthened maternal and child health services.

These numbers represent more than statistics. They are lives touched, communities strengthened, and futures changed!

In partnership with the Ministry of Health an innovation also marked our groundbreaking mental health initiatives, introducing PSYPACK, a digital application for comprehensive mental health assessments in the community and especially the Maternal Health Unit at Kanyama Level One Hospital in Lusaka, a hospital that covers a population of more than 600,000 people.

Our Cervical Cancer Projects reaching 8,956 women cervical cancer screening, and 6,403 adolescent girls vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, over 196,000 community members were reached through awareness campaigns, outreach, and education. In partnership with the Bristol Meyers Squibb Foundation (BMSF) as we implemented the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Project Zambia (MLCCP) we trained 34 Community Health Workers and 20 healthcare professionals, reaching 25,428 people with lung cancer awareness and education.

Across all our programs, our focus has remained on delivering integrated, context-responsive services that strengthen health systems, empower communities, and address long-term health needs. From maternal and child health to mental health, cancer screening, HIV and AIDS, reaching children with disabilities and the protection of children’s rights, our work continues to create sustainable impact.

To all our staff, community volunteers, partners, stakeholders, and supporters, thank you for your trust, guidance, and collaboration throughout the last year. With God leading and guiding us, we look forward to more in this new year!

To the communities we serve, you remain at the heart of everything we do.

May this year bring renewed hope, value, strength and joy for a healthy, prosperous, and impactful 2026.

With sincere gratitude,

Batuke Walusiku-Mwewa
Chief Executive Officer
Access to Health Zambia