Who We Are

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Our Background

Macha Research Trust (MRT) is a community-based research institute situated in the area of Macha in Choma District of the Southern Province of Zambia. It was in this area in the early 1900’s that two women were given land by the colonial government of what was then Northen Rhodesia, to begin mission work for the Brethren in Christ Church of North America. The mission become known as Macha Mission , taking its name from the local chief.
In addition to spiritual ministry, the mission work included education and medical aid to the local population. In 1957 Macha Mission Hospital was opened and to this day , it continues to be well known throughout Zambia for providing good medical care.
Malaria Research began at the hospital in 1988 and in 2005 a separate entity Known as the Malaria Institute at Macha (MIAM) was officially opened. The name was later changed to Macha Research Trust and established as an independent not-for-profit research institute registered as Zambian Legal entity.
Since its inception MRT has been a n example of a home grown institute that is working together with the community and hospital program, has contributed to the remarkable improvement in the well being of people living in the region and surrounding areas of Macha. Its research findings , particularly the early work on better drugs for malaria , have been used on a much wider basis throughout the country and the region. In the Macha area the incidence of malaria has decreased by more than 95% since the beginning of the research work , contributing to a drastic reduction of infant and child mortality over the past years. Additional work on HIV diagnostic and prevention has associated with a remarkable reduction in the number of infants born with this infection in the Macha area.