In a region long underserved by higher education and facing significant healthcare challenges, the Sancta Maria College of Nursing and Midwifery in Lukulu is emerging as a catalyst for change. Offering affordable education is helping to address critical health needs in the area.
With two-thirds of its students hailing from the Lukulu and Mitete districts, the college is training a new generation of nurses ready to serve in local facilities and fill essential gaps in medical services.
The college is tackling the region’s persistent challenges with healthcare staff retention by focusing on nursing education. Instead of seeing talented individuals leave for larger cities, students can build sustainable careers supporting their local health system.
Through hands-on placements at local hospitals and rural clinics, students gain valuable real-world experience while delivering vital care. These placements enhance their education and improve medical access in rural areas with limited resources.
Beyond healthcare, the college drives economic growth by providing professional training that opens doors to employment, helping lift families out of poverty. It also stimulates the local economy by sourcing supplies from nearby vendors and hiring local contractors for construction projects, ensuring the benefits remain within the community.
In August 2024, the college installed solar power in its three student hostels. The hostels are now the only spaces on campus equipped with solar energy, ensuring students can continue their studies even throughout common power outages.
Thanks to the Noel and Carmel O’Brien Family Foundation, construction of a new kitchen and dining facility has begun and will be completed by July 2025, with a seating capacity of 280 to accommodate the growing student population. Currently, the existing dining facility only seats 60 students, leading to overcrowding and forcing students to eat in shifts.
The college urgently needs support to build a permanent and secure fence around its campus. This essential project will protect the students, 70% of whom are female, and safeguard the valuable donor-funded infrastructure, equipment, and furnishings.
Join us in shaping the future of health education in Zambia!
Your support will bring us closer to fulfilling the vision of the Loreto Sisters in Zambia through the ongoing development of the Sancta Maria College of Nursing and Midwifery. Your contribution makes a meaningful difference in turning this vision into a reality.
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