Health partnerships in Zambia

Taking as read the need for strong and effective partnerships between healt h service providers and consumers, the article addresses an example of succ essful partnership from Zambia. It identifies a community-based organisatio n (CBO), namely the (Health) Neighbourhood Committee (NC), as the ideal ins titution through which this partnership should be forged in this context. I t is here strongly suggested that the NC, which is already carrying out som e important 'partnership' functions in most districts of the country, be de veloped further to enable it to articulate community concerns on health and other related social issues to the other, often more powerful and better o rganised, stakeholders. In collaboration with these stakeholders; the NC ca n ensure equitable access to quality health services and create a sense of ownership over health Facilities. The article draws on lessons learnt From other CBOs working in other sectors. This is done in order not to try to re -invent the wheel of community partnerships all over again, but to learn wh at can and has worked and what does not work.