A Long Road To Care: A Young Life Lost In Mushindamo District

After four years without a recorded maternal death, Mushindamo District was shaken by a tragedy that exposed the harsh realities many rural communities continue to face in accessing health care.

In Munyanshi Farms village, a 19-year-old girl, six months pregnant, lost her life while trying to reach medical help. For her and many others in her community, the nearest health facility is St. Dorothy Health Centre, located approximately 50 kilometres away. According to Zambia’s National Community Health Strategy (2022–2026), the recommended distance to a health facility should not exceed five kilometres. For this young girl, care was not five kilometres away, it was ten times further.

Because of the long distance and lack of transport, she had never attended antenatal care during her pregnancy. The day she set out for the health facility was her very first attempt to seek medical attention. Tragically, it was also her last.

She was not only a young woman, she was an adolescent whose body may not yet have been fully prepared for pregnancy and childbirth. At 19 years old and six months pregnant, she most likely conceived when she was still 18, legally still a child. This raises painful questions about early pregnancy, protection of adolescent girls, and the silent risks many young girls face in rural communities.

On the day she needed care most, the journey itself became the greatest barrier. Limited transport options, poor road networks, and the absence of nearby health facilities meant that accessing timely maternal health services was out of reach. What should have been a routine first antenatal visit turned into a fatal struggle for survival.

Her death is a painful reminder that distance can be deadly. In Mushindamo, limited health facilities serve vast and scattered populations. Ambulances are few or nonexistent, and families are often forced to rely on bicycles. For pregnant girls and women, delays caused by these challenges can mean the difference between life and death.

This loss goes beyond one family. It reflects a gap in access to essential health services. Adolescent girls, already vulnerable because of early pregnancies and limited social support, face even greater risks when health facilities are far and transport is unavailable. In such circumstances, the right to health becomes a privilege rather than a guarantee.

As Mushindamo mourns this young life, her story calls for urgent action. Strengthening community level health services, expanding maternal care facilities, and improving emergency transport systems are not optional they are lifesaving necessities. No girl or woman should lose her life simply because help was too far away.

Her journey ended too soon, but her story must travel far enough to inspire change.

SMALL HOUSES, BIG DANGER: CHIENGE DC MOVES TO PROTECT ADOLESCENTS

“I want all small houses demolished.”

Those were the strong words of Chienge District Commissioner, Ms. Rosemary Chikonde, as she raised alarm over what she has described as a growing child safeguarding crisis in the district.

Ms. Chikonde has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of small, isolated houses in communities where adolescents are living alone with the consent of their parents a situation she says exposes children, especially girls, to serious risks of exploitation.

“This is dangerous,i have observed a lot of small houses in our communities, and I want all of them demolished. What do you think happens in those houses at night? What is their purpose? These houses put our girls in danger.” she charged

According to the District Commissioner, the practice is a major driver of child marriages and adolescent pregnancies, as young girls living alone are often forced to find ways to sustain themselves, making them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

In response to the situation, Ms. Chikonde has scheduled meetings with Chief Mununga and civic leaders to engage in dialogue and identify sustainable measures to curb child marriages and adolescent pregnancies in the district.

She has also made a strong appeal to parents, urging them to take responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of their children.

“No child should be left to stay alone. Parents must accommodate their children in the same home and protect them. This is their responsibility,” she emphasized.

Ms. Chikonde further expressed concern that some adolescents are misusing the government’s re-entry and free education policies, which were introduced to give young people affected by early pregnancy or marriage a second chance to learn and rebuild their lives.

“These policies are a privilege and a right meant to help adolescents reflect, learn from their mistakes, and continue with their education,Unfortunately, some are abusing this opportunity.” she said

She concluded by calling on adolescents to abstain from sex and focus on their education, stressing that discipline and commitment to school are key to securing a meaningful future.

“If you want a better tomorrow, stay in school and focus on your education,” she advised.

FROM LABOUR WARD TO EXAMINATION ROOM: A GIRL’S FIGHT TO STAY IN SCHOOL

At dawn in Mushindamo District, while most of her peers were preparing mentally for an important national examination, a Grade Nine pupil was fighting through labour pains. At around 03:00 hours, she gave birth. Just three hours later, still physically weak and emotionally overwhelmed, she made a decision few would imagine, she reported to school to sit for her first examination paper.

Medically assessed and found to be stable, the young mother sat quietly in the examination room, carrying not only the pressure of the exam but also the weight of a life altering responsibility she had just assumed. The following day, she returned to school to complete her remaining papers, determined not to let childbirth bring an end to her education.

Her story is one of extraordinary resilience, but it also exposes the harsh realities facing adolescent mothers in rural districts. While her courage is admirable, no girl should be forced to choose between her health and her education.

Comprehensive counselling empowers adolescent mothers to navigate trauma, overcome stigma, and build confidence for the future. Ensuring access to medication and health services significantly reduces risks to both mother and child, particularly in communities where facilities may be distant.

Structured follow up mechanisms linking schools, health facilities, and community actors play a crucial role in supporting young mothers to recover safely, continue their education, and thrive with dignity.

This young girl’s determination to sit for her examination should not be celebrated in isolation, rather, it should serve as a call to action. Her experience underscores the urgent need for coordinated interventions that prioritise adolescent friendly health services, strengthened school based counselling, and protective systems that allow girls to learn without compromising their health or well-being. Ensuring that no girl is left to face motherhood and education alone must remain a shared responsibility.