Partners in Health and CfC
Construction for Change is excited to partner with the 30/30 Project and Partners in Health this year, a project launched by longtime CfC supporter Julie Lewis and her family. The 30/30 Project is working to curb the worldwide transmission of HIV/AIDS through long-term, local solutions.
Partners in Health
Partners in Health (PIH) and Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU), their local partner, is transforming health care and livelihoods in Neno District through a strong partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health. In a region where adult HIV prevalence is 10.8%, APZU cares for more than 5,500 people living with HIV with one of the best outcomes in the country – less than 1% of patients have dropped out of care. Beyond HIV, APZU has raised the standard of care in tuberculosis, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
The effect on the district has been broader than health care – Neno is now home to a thriving market, three banks, and a host of entrepreneurs taking advantage of the economic growth. The government of Malawi has invested alongside Partners in Health, multiplying the effect of our work. Of the $31 million spent, more than a third came from the government, a commitment that would not have been possible without PIH’s leadership.
The 30/30 Project
The 30/30 Project will fund the construction of a new health center that will address the need for free, basic primary care in Nsambe, lowering the barrier of access. CfC will handle all construction logistics and then the facility will be run and operated by PIH/APZU. There is no other public facility in this impoverished region. Approximately 20,000 people live in Nsambe’ s catchment area and the current health center received many more patient visits a year, since people come from remote areas, including Mozambique, to receive health services. Key programs at that will be provided at the new health center include treatment and prevention for complex diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and drug-resistant tuberculosis, as well as initiatives to treat and prevent malaria, reduce maternal mortality rates through family planning and antenatal care, and treat childhood malnutrition.