Peace Corps Zambia to promote rural health, education activities

By SIMON MUNTEMBA PEACE Corps Zambia has sworn-in 66 volunteers who will work under community health programme and teach English as a foreign language in Zambia.

Those sworn-in include 28 American volunteers for rural education development, while 38 were for community health improvement project respectively.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony in Lusaka yesterday, Minister of General Education, Dennis Wanchinga said the volunteers in his ministry were assigned as English teachers in rural upper primary schools.

Dr. Wanchinga who was represented by the ministry’s education director of open and distance education, Ms Bridget Mooya thanked the American government for its continued support through the Peace Corps in Zambia.

Dr. Wanchinga said that Peace Corps volunteers will best to support pupils and teachers in the difficult transition from local language languages to English as the medium of instruction which would go a long way in improving education outcomes in all subject areas taught in English.

"The Ministry of General Education feels very optimistic about this collaboration with the Peace Corps for it is a directly feeding into the ministry's priority of improving the quality of education," the minister said.

Dr. Wanchinga explained that the volunteers that were assigned at the Ministry of Health, will work with clinic staff, community-based organisations and leaders to ensure that rural Zambians were healthy and empowered to adopt behaviors that mitigate the effects of HIV/ AIDS, improved maternal, child health and nutrition.

He said that in working with the clinic staff, the volunteers will supplement the efforts of the Ministry of Health.

“Both education and health volunteers will be involved in malaria work to promote evidence-based interventions such as indoor residual spraying, seeking early treatment with Coartem and sleeping under insecticide-treated nets," Dr. Wanchinga said.

And speaking at the same event, US Charge' d'Affaires Christopher Krafft said his country will continue to support the Peace Corps programme in Zambia mainly due to the collaborative relationship that exists between the two countries.

Mr Krafft reaffirmed his government’s continued support to the programme to promote behaviours and practices that contribute to improved maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes

And the government said working with both education and health volunteers will help supplement the efforts of both the Ministry of Health and Education in ensuring quality service delivery.