Public health director calls for enhanced support, supervision, pay for community-based volunteers

Zambia’s public health officials are raising concerns over the working conditions of Community-Based Volunteers (CBVs).

Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Bushimbwa Tambatamba, highlighted a lack of support in skills training, supervision, incentives, safety, and data security for CBVs.

Speaking at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on Monday, ahead of the inaugural National Community Health Symposium, Tambatamba stated the need for dedicated supervisors for CBVs, rather than ad-hoc oversight by health facility staff or partner organizations.

“To ensure quality care, all CBVs should have dedicated supervisors,” she said.

Tambatamba also advocated for a competitive monthly remuneration for CBVs in line with government policy, urging that volunteers be added to the payroll with access to benefits and non-monetary incentives.

This, she argued, would strengthen Zambia’s community health systems.

“Community health workers play a vital role in connecting health facilities with communities,” she noted.

Tambatamba stated the need for increased domestic funding to enhance training, community support, and technology management for improved service delivery.

She called on the community to support health professionals in driving positive change, underlining the collective role in building resilient health systems.

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