Chamba community gets the job done
Advocating for women’s needs? Knowing their service rights? Holding leaders to account—but not shying away from physical labour? This Malawi community delivers.
Written by Katie Hackett
on April 8, 2026
When Edna James became pregnant in 2020, she was stressed. She knew the trials ahead of her—this was no abstract fear of childbirth.
To get basic medical care during pregnancy and delivery, Edna would trek 10 kilometres to the nearest hospital. Carrying luggage on her head, walking long distances or paying for costly motorbike rides would make pregnancy not only exhausting, but dangerous.
“Some women ended up delivering their babies on the way to the hospital,” Edna says. “That put their lives and the lives of their newborn babies at risk.”
These challenges were well known in the community, but they were not accepted as inevitable.
Laying the groundwork for a better future
As early as 2017, community members in Malawi’s Chamba Area Program, where Canadians sponsor children, began raising concerns about the lack of maternity services.
They approached their government and political leaders, making a formal request to add a maternity wing to their local health clinic so women could be cared for safely, closer to home.
Supporting their vision, World Vision partnered with the community to strengthen the existing facility’s readiness.
With monthly support from sponsors, a mechanized water system was installed. Clean water was piped directly to the clinic and eight surrounding community taps. Health and hygiene improved in the area, with 610 households benefitting. Cases of diarrhea and waterborne illnesses decreased, and the burden of collecting water was eased, especially for women.
In addition, World Vision constructed a medical incinerator and seven latrines, laying the groundwork for a functional maternity wing.
Despite these improvements, the maternity wing itself remained incomplete for more than six years.
First-time mom Leticia brings her newborn to the health clinic for a checkup. She says having a well-equipped maternity ward has eased her anxiety. (Photo: Bernard Kankhono/World Vision)
Community Voice in Action
Rather than wait silently, the community organized and acted.
The Chamba Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) committee—trained by World Vision using its social accountability approach —engaged local leaders and duty bearers, demanding change. The CVA training equipped them with the skills to understand service standards, track commitments and hold leaders accountable through constructive dialogue.
Under the leadership of chairperson Kadzuwa Kang’oma, the committee brought district officials, a local counsellor and their member of parliament together to discuss. They were determined to find a solution.
“[The CVA committee] gave them two months to finish the construction work that remained,” Kang’oma says.
“We are now able to conduct weekly post-natal checkups on the newborns and their mothers with ease,” says Mary Tembo, a nurse at the health centre in Chamba, where at least 20 mothers are assisted every week. (Photo: Bernard Kankhono/World
Locally-led advocacy and ownership deliver results
Alongside their advocacy, community members took ownership by contributing labour. Local chiefs mobilized their people to mould bricks and begin construction, with financial support provided through the district council.
World Vision complemented these efforts and the space was readied to deliver quality maternal care. Through generous gifts-in-kind, the maternity wing was furnished with curtains, exam tables, weigh scales, a sterilizer and more.
The Chamba maternity wing officially opened in 2023—the tangible result of its community’s tenacity, leadership and hard work.
“Currently, we are very happy that the maternity wing is finally completed,” says Edna.
Kang'omba agrees, acknowledging, “Our women have struggled big time.”
Since the opening of the maternity wing, 228 babies have been safely delivered.
Did you know? Over five years, communities have saved the lives of 1,355 children by using World Vision’s local advocacy approach to improve their health services.
If you're inspired by this collective community action, consider:
- Supporting community transformation by sponsoring a child
- Giving toward Mom and Baby Care