2023 is off to a great start!

Since January, the Healthy Learners' team has successfully established our program in Chipata District of Eastern Province and Livingstone, Monze and Mazabuka Districts in Southern Province. As a result, the program is now serving more than 730,000 students across six provinces. The School Health Workers have been busy educating, treating, screening, and referring students at each of our 426 partner schools.

All this is happening as we are strengthening our government partnerships, preparing to officially launch our Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in early 2024, and refining our future expansion plans in Zambia and potentially beyond.

"The program is creating a good relationship between parents and us, the Head Teachers, because I now receive direct phone calls from parents to notify me of the recovery of their child.” — Head Teacher, Kakombe Combined School

Chabu's Story

Chabu is a 4th-grade student at Kasamba Primary School. One morning he reported to school early and decided to pass the time before class started by playing with his friends. While playing, Chabu accidentally hit his head on a window frame and sustained a deep cut on his forehead. His buddies immediately took action and rushed him to the Health Room.

Emelia Munthali was the health teacher on duty when Chabu and his friends arrived. Emelia quickly put on her gloves and utilized her training to properly clean the wound and reduce the bleeding, while another teacher informed the school administration of the incident. The School Health Administrator continued to follow the protocols they learned in their program training and worked on providing transport for Chabu, who was referred to the nearby health facility.

Emelia tried contacting Chabu’s parents but couldn’t reach them, so one of Chabu’s friends was asked to go to his house to find a family member. When the vehicle arrived, Chabu was rushed to Matero Main Hospital, where he was fast-tracked. There, his wound was sutured, and he was able to return to school the following day. His parents, who were at work when Chabu was being rushed to the hospital, were relieved to find that he received the care he needed in a timely manner.

Thanks to the swift action taken by Emelia, Chabu’s friends, and the school administrator, Chabu was able to receive prompt medical attention. The school’s commitment to health and safety ensured that Chabu was able to recover quickly and return to the classroom. The incident also underscores the importance of having trained personnel and a well-established protocol for responding to health emergencies in schools.

Kasamba Primary School’s dedication to the health and well-being of its students is a testament to the school’s commitment to providing quality education to the children in the community.

By investing in the health program, the school is not only improving the health outcomes of its students, but also creating a safe and nurturing environment where students can thrive.

Awards and Recognition

Healthy Learners is honored to have been chosen to receive the Lipman Family Prize. This competitive and prestigious global prize celebrates innovation in the social sector by resourcing organizations that are actively contributing creative solutions to problems around the world. In addition to $125,000 in prize funds, Healthy Learners is also receiving executive training opportunities from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a chance to collaborate with various departments on campus around design and innovation.

Co-Founder Ignicious Bulongo, Board Chair Dr. Lise Johnson, and Vice President of Development and Communications, Sarah Bush, traveled to Pennsylvania to meet with various departments at UPenn and receive the award. We are honored to have been selected as winners of this esteemed prize and selected among a pool of talented and impactful global applicants!

To learn more about how Healthy Learners is keeping kids healthy so they can learn, visit www.HealthyLearners.org or contact Sarah Bush at S.Bush@HealthyLearners.org.