Effective Community Mobilization: Lessons Learnt from Implementing the Integrated Care Model in Zimbabwe

Globally, there has been a heated debate on the effectiveness of community mobilization in improving maternal and child health outcomes. Sustainable Development Goal number three aims at attaining Universal Health Coverage to improve health outcomes to the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. This paper outlines the key lessons that we learnt from the implementation of a novel community mobilization model, the Integrated Care Model (ICM) in Zimbabwe. The keys lessons were: To determine effect of community models, set parameters of measuring the effect at protocol development. Effective community mobilization in maternal and child health needs saturation coverage. Meaningful community engagement is critical throughout the mobilization cycle. Community Health Workers derive motivation from different things that are cheap and cost-effective. Community models should be integrated into the mainstream health delivery system for sustainability. Community models should be integrated into the mainstream health delivery system for sustainability. Participatory facilitation approaches yield better results that lectures in community health promotion. Community Health Workers should have comprehensive kits that are continually replenished for effectiveness in early diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses We conclude that integration of the ICM model into the main health delivery system ensures the consistent transference of correct knowledge and skills for better maternal and child health. The Government of Zimbabwe and other developing countries should consider implementing such an approach in their respective community health strategies in order to reduce preventable child morbidity and mortality.