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Zambia has urged countries to establish robust and coordinated frameworks capable of responding swiftly and efficiently to public health emergencies, including disease outbreaks.
Ministry of Health Acting Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Mildred Simpungwe, said public health emergencies had far-reaching effects on communities, disrupt health systems, and impede national development.
Speaking during the Africa Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC) Surge initiative meeting held at Kenneth Kaunda International Conference Centre, Simpungwe said the Ministry provided essential leadership, policy direction and coordination within the health sector.
She emphasized that through its mandate, the Ministry strived to ensure Zambia’s health systems remained prepared, responsive, and resilient in the face of emergencies that threatened the health and well-being of the population.
“The Emergency AVoHC Surge Core is a significant initiative aimed at bolstering our national capacity to respond to public health emergencies,” Simpungwe stated.
She said the framework united trained health professionals who could be rapidly deployed to support emergency response efforts across the country.
Simpungwe noted that having a readily available surge workforce was crucial for ensuring that Zambia could respond effectively to disease outbreaks, humanitarian crises, and other public health threats.
“With skilled professionals prepared for deployment, we are better equipped to safeguard our communities and mitigate the impact of emergencies,” she said.
She further highlighted the Ministry’s collaboration with Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) to ensure timely procurement, storage, and distribution of medical commodities required to support emergency response teams.
Simpungwe emphasized that the success of initiatives like the Emergency AVoHC Surge Core depended on strong partnerships.
“The Ministry continues to work alongside national institutions, cooperating partners, and international organizations to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and response capabilities,” she said.
She noted that these efforts enhanced the health system’s resilience and capacity to protect the Zambian people from both emerging and re-emerging public health threats.
Professor Roma Chilengi, Director General of the Zambia National Public Health Institute, said Zambia had successfully inducted its first Emergency Medical Teams cohort and begun establishing systems that allow trained health professionals to be deployed rapidly during outbreaks, disasters, and other emergencies.
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Chilengi added that the country had strengthened its Rapid Response Teams nationwide.
“This has included structured training of multidisciplinary teams, development of operational SOPs, and establishment of national and sub-national rostering systems to ensure that skilled responders are ready for deployment at any time,” he said.
He noted that these efforts were being implemented using a One Health approach, integrating human health, animal health, environmental sectors, and other government institutions.
“Emergencies do not respect sectoral boundaries, and the response must therefore be equally integrated,” Chilengi said.
In the context of the International Health Regulations, he said Zambia continued to strengthen key preparedness capacities, including the development of civil–military coordination SOPs to support collaboration between health authorities and defense forces during major emergencies.
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