For 9 years AHA has worked in Zambia, addressing the needs of more than 40,000 refugees in the Meheba Settlement, Nangweshi Camp, and Mayukwayukwa Settlement, as well as approximately 5,000 nationals in the areas surrounding the refugee camps.  Services have included healthcare, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation and community development.

2006 was an especially significant year for AHA in Zambia, as we managed the safe and dignified relocation and repatriation of an estimated 12,000 Angolan refugees. Our objective was to facilitate people’s return home, ensuring that they experienced no detrimental effect to their health and nutritional status.  In doing so, it soon became apparent that a significant number of refugees in Nangweshi were not keen to return to Angola.  For these people the government of Zambia kindly offered a relocation opportunity to the Mayukwayukwa Settlement.  The operation was a huge success, free from any major health or public health incidences, communicable diseases, or deaths.

The provision of comprehensive and easily accessible healthcare remains a priority for AHA in Zambia, as we service the needs of the remaining refugees in Nangweshi camp and 5,000 nationals in the surrounding area.

Lifesaving health services are provided by our 2 clinics, which house the following departments:  Inpatients, Outpatients, Laboratory Services, Pharmaceuticals, Labour, Antenatal, Delivery and Post Natal,  Public Health, Reproductive Health, Health education, HIV/AIDS, Voluntary Counselling and Testing, Home Based Care, Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI), Growth Monitoring and Referrals.

Our efforts have been rewarded by a marked improvement in the overall health and wellbeing of the assisted population, with the proper management of patients locally resulting in a reduction of the number of referrals to other health establishments.  To ensure the assisted population’s ongoing benefit from AHA services, we have been working with the Ministry of Health to manage a phased integration programme.  In this way we seek to strengthen the capacities of the local community and to achieve sustainable results.

Complimentary to AHA’s medical services is our nutrition programme, offering supplementary feeding, therapeutic feeding, and basket monitoring activities, to those who need support.  Supplies are provided by the World Food Programme and distributed to the assisted population, whilst wet feeding is given daily at AHA’s nutrition centre.

In Nangweshi Camp, AHA is also responsible for the provision of clean and adequate water and sanitation.  Community participation is greatly encouraged and residents are sensitised to the necessity of good personal and environmental hygiene.  The provision of quality water is closely monitored and adheres to World Health Organisation standards and recommendations, meeting the 15-20 litres per person per day minimum.  An enthusiastic response by residents, along with extensive cleaning campaigns, the promotion of mosquito nets, and proper drainage of stagnant water, have all contributed to improved disease control, the absence of sanitation related epidemics, and a low incidence of diarrhoea and skin disease in the camp.

For more information about AHA Zambia, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it