Zambia, WHO Strengthen Ties in Fight Against Public Health Threats
President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed Zambia’s deepening partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) following a courtesy call by Dr. Clement L. Peter Lasuba, the WHO Resident Representative to Zambia.
The engagement focused on bolstering collaboration to enhance the country’s preparedness, prevention, and response capacity against public health threats.
During the meeting, President Hichilema emphasized Zambia’s continued commitment to safeguarding public health, noting that health is central to the nation’s development goals. As the Global Champion for Cholera Control, Zambia is intensifying efforts to prioritize maternal and newborn health as part of a broader strategy to improve healthcare outcomes nationwide.
“We are pleased to reaffirm our strong partnership with the WHO and other stakeholders as we work collectively to address Zambia’s health challenges,” the President said.
Zambia will host the WHO Regional Committee meeting in August this year, a milestone that President Hichilema described as “an affirmation of the continued collaboration and trust” between the WHO and the Zambian government.
A key highlight of the upcoming meeting will be the anticipated launch of the National Cholera Elimination Plan, a multisectoral strategy aimed at controlling and ultimately eradicating cholera across the country.
President Hichilema also reiterated the government’s commitment to growing the economy as a pathway to increasing domestic financing for health.
He highlighted that through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the government will continue investing in functional maternity wings at all health facilities, ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all Zambians.
