Climate change is already beginning to impact health outcomes in Zambia, and climate change (particularly temperature, drought and flooding) is exacerbating current impacts. Climate-sensitive diseases that have sustained increased mortality and morbidity in urban and rural Zambia include malaria, diarrhea, cholera, and respiratory infections, with malaria having the highest incidence.
For Masauso and Anne, who have been working as CHWs since 2019, the impact is twofold. Not only has family food security been threatened, but the ability to provide essential health services has also been affected.
“This makes my job as a CHW very difficult because I cannot stay at home and watch my children starve. I have to travel to find it.” [temporary] I can find paid work outside the village and provide food for my children,” says Masauso.
As one of two data coordinators among her 11 CHW colleagues, Anne’s pressing challenges include balancing volunteering with making a living. Enduring hunger affects her ability to work. And they feed their families at a time when income is scarce and the cost of food, energy, and other necessities increases.
