Loreto Day Cause 2025: Sancta Maria College
- The Mary Word
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
By Ainsley Benbow
In the heart of the Western Province of Zambia, the Sancta Maria College of Nursing and Midwifery provides the opportunity for education but is more than just that, it is a powerful platform for social justice and generational change.
Founded in 2021, the Sancta Maria College of Nursing and Midwifery or SMCNM, is a Mary Ward International and Vatican-supported initiative committed to changing lives in health and independence. With a 99% graduation rate and 98% employment rate, their three-year program is focused on nursing and midwifery, giving students academic guidance and hands-on training opportunities, vital for real-world healthcare careers and situations.
Currently, in Western Zambia, there are serious health and social justice challenges such as high rates of poverty, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, child marriage and the limited access to education and healthcare. According to the World Bank Group for Zambia in 2023, “85 women died per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related causes in Zambia.” Despite this being an improvement from the 596 ratio in 2000, the maternal mortality rate remains a significant health concern among the public which highlights the ongoing challenges in relation to quality and access to healthcare. Continually, it is estimated that over 60% of the population live below the poverty line, which is even higher in rural areas, staggering up to 78.8% of the population according to multiple sites.
Did you know that within Zambia, out of their 1.7 million child brides, majority being girls, over 400,000 of them were married before the age of 15. Without the proper prior knowledge for reproductive health or for the possibility of future career options, these young women become vulnerable to limited life choices, health risks and continue the cycle of poverty. SMCNM gives women a chance to break free from the cycle of poverty, gaining education and striving for a better future and to decrease these staggering statistics in health, social justice and for future generations.
Currently, there are over 390 students enrolled in the program, equipping women with the skills to gain financial independence, leadership opportunities, and the power to advocate for better healthcare and social justice within their and broader communities.
The Sancta Maria College graduates go on to work in hospitals, clinics and community health centres, where they play a crucial role in reducing infant and maternal mortality, one of the biggest health challenges in rural Zambia as expressed earlier.
For example, the detrimental effects and support provided by SMCNM can be seen by the experience of Adeyeri Omufahyime Goodness. Graduating as an alumna in 2024, Adeyeri was able to successfully complete the program and is now on the path to becoming a skilled and capable healthcare worker to support others in hers and other communities facing similar challenges. She stated, “SMCCNS is more than just a school; it’s a family. The community, faith-based values, and academic excellence have shaped me into a compassionate healthcare professional.”
In 2023 UNESCO stated that there are over 119 million girls out of school in the world, initiatives like SMCNM are vital in decreasing this number. As stated by the office of the provost for the Sancta Maria College, “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” By providing women with a healthy environment to foster academic and personal growth, women are able to transform their lives and further inspire the world around them.
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