World Bank Commends Zambia’s Leadership in Health Sector Development
The World Bank has commended the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) for their effective implementation of World Bank-funded projects, reinforcing the country’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and emergency preparedness.
During a courtesy call on the Minister of Health, the World Bank Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mr. Nathan Belete, highlighted Zambia’s increasing funding allocation, which has grown from $612 million to nearly $2 billion over the past three years.
Mr. Belete attributed this rise to Zambia’s strong governance and successful execution of projects, underscoring that the World Bank regards its financial support as an investment rather than a gift, reflecting confidence in the nation’s progress.
Mr. Belete praised the Ministry of Health’s dedication to strengthening health service delivery and enhancing emergency response mechanisms. He reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to partnering with Zambia in achieving sustainable healthcare improvements.
In response, Health Minister Hon. Dr. Elijah Muchima welcomed the World Bank delegation and expressed gratitude for its continued support. He acknowledged Zambia’s ongoing health challenges, including the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as recent public health crises such as cholera, Mpox, COVID-19, and the 2023–2024 drought, which has affected 6.5 million people across 84 districts.
Dr. Muchima highlighted the impact of the World Bank’s investments in key projects, such as the Africa CDC Regional Investment Project ($89 million), the Zambia Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Project ($50 million), and the upcoming Healthcare Innovation and Transformation (HIT) Project ($150 million). These initiatives focus on strengthening primary healthcare, digital health solutions, and the supply chain.
The Minister further emphasized the government’s priorities, including health infrastructure development, workforce capacity building, solarization of health facilities, and improved access to essential medical supplies.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering partnerships with the World Bank and other development agencies to enhance healthcare resilience and accessibility.
The World Bank assured continued collaboration with Zambia, recognizing that effective leadership and implementation will facilitate further support. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of sustaining progress in health service delivery and emergency preparedness.
