Group wants govt to channel $1.5 million U.S support into adolescent-friendly health services

The Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRAP) has urged the government to extend the US$1.5 million support from the American government towards establishing adolescent-friendly health services in every health facility across the country.

MedRAP Executive Director, Liyoka Liyoka said one of the most effective ways to address Zambia’s high teenage pregnancy rates was to provide appropriate health care services tailored to the needs of young people.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Liyoka said most clients in maternity wings today were adolescents who become mothers at an early age due to the absence of equitable and age-appropriate services.

He appealed to the government to direct part of the funding towards accessible, available, equitable and quality health services that specifically meet the needs of adolescents.

“Furthermore, we implore the government to continue establishing transparent accountability systems that are responsive to the people of Zambia as well as ensuring good governance especially within the supply chain system of medicines,” Liyoka said.

He thanked the American government for committing US$1.5 billion to Zambia’s health sector over five years starting April 2026.
Liyoka said the financial commitment comes at a critical time when Zambia is grappling with funding challenges needed to strengthen its health system and maintain quality healthcare delivery following the withdrawal of several donors.

“It is therefore our expectation as MedRAP that this support covers aspects of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which is a substantive component of the healthcare delivery system due to the heavy burden of HIV and AIDS in the country,” he said.

He added that MedRAP also expects support to cover human resources and the laboratory system, which he described as essential for quality healthcare delivery.

Liyoka noted that Zambia’s health sector was emerging from a difficult period marked by significant upheaval, prompting the government to institute a forensic audit to address suspected corruption within the public sector, medicines supply chain and the health system.

“MedRAP is satisfied that the government has taken substantive steps in correcting these ills that have prevented the people of Zambia from accessing the equitable health services which they desperately needed,” he said.

He further highlighted the critical role played by Community-Based Volunteers and Community Health Workers in delivering healthcare services as close as possible to communities, particularly in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and other communicable and non-communicable diseases at the primary healthcare level.

“Our plea is that, in its efforts to beef up health human resources, government should also prioritise this important cohort in the next recruitment of health staff and improve their remuneration so as to enhance last-mile healthcare delivery,” he said.

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