Mobilising Access to Maternal Health Services in Zambia
(MAMaZ) Programme

The Mobilising Access to Maternal Health Services in Zambia (MAMaZ) programme aims to be a catalyst for addressing the underlying reasons why people do not get the maternal and newborn health services they need. 

Funded by UKaid from the Department for International Development, MAMaZ supports Zambian stakeholders to design and test effective ways to reduce barriers to accessing maternal health services, thus complementing IHP+ investments in the development of Human Resources for Health (HRH) and Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC).

Implemented as an integrated operations research initiative, MAMaZ has a community component and a research component. The community engagement strategy has five core elements:


  • Community mobilisation to raise awareness of maternal and newborn health issues and to generate social approval for behaviour change

  • Establishment of community systems such as communal savings schemes, bicycle ambulances for emergency transport, and child minding exchanges

  • Facility-based emergency transport using eRanger motorcycle ambulances

  • Community monitoring systems to track progress and identity issues arising

  • Mentoring and support with a focus on embedding sustainability and promoting community and district ownership

National data suggest that the Maternal Mortality Ratio in Zambia has been improving, however the drivers behind the data are not well understood. By improving the evidence base on what does and does not work on the 'demand-side' MAMaZ is working to:

  • demonstrate impact, providing robust evidence which can be used to improve practice and roll-out successful community based innovations across other districts in Zambia

  • analyse available data, and use this information to inform national and regional policy

Implementation in the first year is in three districts (Choma, Mongu and Serenje), expanding into Chama, Kaoma and Mkushi districts in 2011.

MAMaZ is managed by HPI, working with Oxford Policy Management, the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and various regional and national partner organisations. District health teams play a central role in planning and implementing all activities taking place at community level.