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Zambia and the Global Fund have signed new grants worth US$362 million for the 2024–2026 period, underscoring both the country’s commitment and the importance of sustained international cooperation in advancing public health.
The funds will support Zambia’s efforts to combat HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, while strengthening laboratories, surveillance systems, community health structures, and overall health system resilience.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Tobias Mulimbika, revealed this during a reception on “Strengthening International Collaboration Toward the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment: Perspectives on Japan–UK–South Africa Cooperation in Global Health.”
This is according to a statement issued in Tokyo on Tuesday by Faith Cilube, First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Japan.
During the reception, held recently at the British Embassy in Tokyo, Mulimbika commended the Global Fund for its continued contribution to achieving universal health coverage in Zambia.
“Beyond financing, we are equally grateful for the technical partnerships that have accompanied this cooperation — notably with Japan’s JICA and the UK Health Security Agency, which have supported training, infrastructure development, and capacity building across our health sector,” Mulimbika said.
He described Zambia’s trilateral cooperation with development partners and multilateral institutions as “a model of inclusive, country-led and results-oriented health diplomacy.”
Mulimbika highlighted that the recent visit by the Japanese Diet Task Force to Zambia was a proud moment, offering the delegation a firsthand view of how international partnerships operate on the ground.
He said the delegation also observed how different initiatives — including those by the Global Fund, Gavi, JICA, and Unitaid — complement one another.
“Most importantly, they witnessed how this support is saving lives: clinics delivering HIV and TB treatment, communities better protected from malaria, and health systems strengthened through supply chains, laboratories, and digital innovation,” he stated.
Mulimbika noted that Zambia’s partnership with the Global Fund had enabled over one million Zambians to access life-saving antiretroviral therapy, expanded malaria prevention programmes, and improved TB detection and treatment outcomes.
He also said investments in digital platforms had enhanced supply chain management, ensuring that medicines reach patients efficiently and on time.
“Tuberculosis services are reaching more communities with better detection and improved treatment outcomes, while digital investments are strengthening supply chain management and ensuring medicines reach patients when needed most,” Mulimbika added.
The Ambassador emphasised that the upcoming Global Fund replenishment will be crucial to building more resilient health systems in Zambia and across Southern Africa.
He invited Japan to continue expanding life-saving interventions, strengthening health systems, and advancing progress toward universal health coverage in line with Japan’s vision for resilient and equitable global health.
“With Japan’s continued partnership, we can safeguard progress, foster innovation in health systems, and create a healthier, more resilient and inclusive future for all Zambians and communities across Africa capable of withstanding future crises,” he said.
Mulimbika further praised Japan’s longstanding leadership in championing universal health coverage, noting that the engagement of the Diet Task Force and the advocacy of Friends of the Global Fund Japan demonstrate Japan’s global health leadership and commitment to shared progress.
“As we approach the replenishment, I urge the government of Japan, Parliament, and the private sector to deepen this leadership in realising our shared vision aligned with Zambia’s 8th National Development Plan, universal health coverage goals, and Agenda 2030,” he added.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice Minister Matsumoto Hisashi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting global health under its pillars of diplomacy and human security.
Hisashi pledged Japan’s continued support for the Global Fund and Africa’s efforts against HIV, TB, and malaria, as well as the drive toward sustainable universal health coverage.
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