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Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Prudence Chinama-Kangwa, has called for strengthened disease surveillance and cross-border cooperation to protect communities against Ebola and other infectious diseases.
Kangwa said Luapula’s geographical proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), coupled with communities living along the shared border, made coordinated surveillance and early detection essential to protecting public health.
She said this when she received a delegation from the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), which is in the province to conduct a simulation exercise aimed at assessing the country’s preparedness and response capabilities.
“The mobile laboratory units will enhance the province’s ability to detect and respond promptly to potential public health threats,” Kangwa said.
ZNPHI Acting Director General, Dr. Nyambe Sinyange, said the exercise in Milenge District would assess how quickly mobile laboratories could be deployed and deliver timely Ebola test results.
Sinyange said the exercise was part of national preparedness efforts in view of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, adding that testing response plans in advance would help authorities identify gaps and strengthen coordination before an emergency arose.
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Defence Force Medical Services Director General, Dr. Wamunyima Chingumbe, said the Defence Force was a key stakeholder in managing public health emergencies and stood ready to support response efforts.
“Swift and coordinated action will be critical to containing any potential Ebola case and preventing further transmission,” Chingumbe said.
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Country Director, Diane Morof, said the exercise would help assess laboratory testing procedures and ensure results were accurate and delivered promptly.
United States Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel, Matt Yan, said the mobile laboratories, valued at US$1.7 million, had been provided with United States support to strengthen Zambia’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
Disaster Risk Management Division Assistant Director for Emergency and Relief Makoye Chisuta said the exercise would help identify coordination gaps among stakeholders and guide improvements in emergency response.
“The exercise brings together public health, defence and disaster management stakeholders to strengthen national preparedness and protect communities from potential disease outbreaks,” Chisuta said.
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