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Zambia and the United States of America are reportedly expected to sign an agreement on health assistance, marking a significant milestone in the two countries’ long-standing partnership in the health sector.
Under the proposed agreement, the partnership is expected to sustain and expand access to essential health services, including HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Maternal and Child Health services.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Georgia Chimombo, confirmed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday and made available to Zambia Monitor.
The proposed agreement outlines a performance-based, co-financed partnership aimed at strengthening Zambia’s health system while supporting the country’s transition towards self-reliance by 2030.
“Central to this collaboration is a shared commitment to sustaining essential health services, strengthening national systems, and ensuring that health gains made over the years are protected and expanded,” Chimombo said.
She explained that the partnership would enhance disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and health data systems, while progressively transitioning key health system functions, such as supply chains, health workforce management, and digital systems, to full government ownership by 2030.
“The agreement is expected to strengthen Zambia’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to disease outbreaks through improved surveillance systems, the training of over 100 field epidemiologists, and strengthened rapid response mechanisms,” she said.
Chimombo stated that over time, Zambia is projected to increase domestic investment in health as external funding gradually reduces. She added that the partnership envisioned a nationally connected network of high-quality laboratories.
“Support will focus on laboratory commodities, skilled personnel, biosafety, and sample transportation systems, with Zambia steadily increasing its financial contribution through 2030,” Chimombo stated.
In addition, the agreement prioritizes a secure, efficient, and transparent supply chain for medicines and medical supplies, leveraging national systems such as the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA). Investments will support procurement, storage, distribution, and tracking of essential health commodities nationwide.
Chimombo further announced that the government was expected to maintain a minimum of 40,000 frontline health workers, including doctors, nurses, laboratory professionals, pharmacists, epidemiologists, and community health workers.
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“The formalization and integration of community-based health volunteers into the national workforce is also anticipated, strengthening service delivery at community level,” she said.
The partnership will also support integrated and interoperable health information systems, including electronic medical records, laboratory information systems, logistics management platforms, disease surveillance tools, and a national health data warehouse to improve evidence-based decision-making.
“Planned policy reforms include expanding access to HIV prevention services and formally integrating community health workers into the national health workforce,” Chimombo said.
She added that the agreement was expected to support HIV prevention and treatment, malaria and tuberculosis control, global health security, and cross-cutting health system strengthening. Once signed, implementation will be overseen by a Joint Health Cooperation Steering Committee.
Chimombo highlighted that co-investment will be linked to performance, with Zambia’s annual health expenditure projected to increase from approximately US$628 million in 2026 to over US$1 billion by 2030.
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