This Women’s Month, Access to Health Zambia celebrates the incredible women whose passion, leadership, and dedication continue to drive positive change within the organization and the communities we serve. Among these remarkable women is Brenda Phiri, one of our longest-serving employees and a member of the Management Team, whose commitment and leadership have played a vital role in advancing our mission.

Brenda’s journey with Access to Health Zambia (A2HealthZ), formerly known as CMMB, spans 14 years. A nurse by profession, she holds a Degree in Guidance and Counselling and a Master’s in Public Health. Her career with A2HealthZ began when she was deployed to Luapula Province as a Provincial Coordinator under the Zambian-led Prevention Initiative (ZPI). Over the years, her dedication and leadership have seen her take on key roles, including managing projects such as the COMMUNITY RISING, Support an AIDS Free Era (SAFE) and DETERMINED RESILIENT EMPOWERED AIDS-FREE, MENTORED AND SAFE WOMEN (DREAMS), working closely with communities to improve health outcomes and strengthen health systems.

Today, she serves as the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Technical Advisor, providing technical guidance to enhance care for women and children across supported facilities.

Reflecting on her long tenure, Brenda has drawn inspiration from the organization’s purpose, finding motivation in the positive difference it makes every day.

“For fourteen years, I have been driven by the mission to deliver locally sustainable, quality health solutions to women, children, and their communities. This work is more than a job to me; it is my passion.”

Her transition from hospital nursing to the Non-Governmental Organization sector allowed her to address health challenges on a broader scale. Through this work, she has witnessed firsthand the life-saving impact of community health initiatives.

“One of my most memorable experiences has been working on the CHAMPS Kanyama Project (CHILDREN AND MOTHERS PARTNERSHIPS (CHAMPS), where I witnessed a significant reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths following A2HealthZ’s support to Kanyama Level One Hospital and surrounding health facilities. Recording zero maternal and neonatal deaths in 2025 means so much to me. Behind this statistic are women whose lives were saved, children given a chance to be born, and families strengthened,” Brenda shares.

For Brenda, this experience reinforces the power of women supporting one another. She believes that empowering women creates a ripple effect that touches entire generations. As International Women’s Day 2026 approaches, she calls on women to lift each other up and embrace the power of support.

“This year’s Women’s Day theme, ‘Give To Gain,’ reminds us that every act of support through mentorship, education, opportunities, or guidance strengthens not just individual women, but families, communities, and society as a whole.”