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

Mobilising Access to Maternal Health Services in Zambia (MAMaZ) is a UK Department for International Development (DFID)-supported programme that promises to be a catalyst to addressing the underlying reasons why people do not get the maternal and newborn health services they need.

The programme will support Zambian stakeholders to design and test effective ways to reduce barriers to accessing maternal health services, thus complimenting IHP+ investments in the development of Human Resources for Health (HRH) and Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC). 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 aims to:

  • demonstrate impact, using evidence to improve practice and roll-out successful community based innovations across all districts in Zambia
  • analyse available data, and use this information to inform national and regional policy.

The programme is being managed by HPI, working with Oxford Policy Management, the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and various regional and national partner organisations.

Zambian NGOs will play a vital role in the design and implementation of community-based activities to mobilise demand for services. Significant emphasis will be placed throughout the project on:

  • building local NGO capacity in the area of MNH community engagement and political advocacy
  • promoting government leadership and ownership by involving district and provincial health authorities in activities at community level