Zambia Secures Continued U.S. Support for HIV and Health Priorities
Zambia will continue to receive support from the United States government for HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and other public health priorities, Health Minister Dr Elijah Muchima has confirmed.
Speaking during bilateral talks with the U.S. Bureau for Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr Muchima commended Zambia’s progress in combating HIV but warned that challenges remain.
He cited the 30,000 new HIV infections recorded annually, especially among adolescent girls and young women, as a major concern that threatens to reverse hard-won gains.
“Despite increased domestic financing for health, external support remains critical until Zambia achieves self-reliance. We are glad that the U.S. government has committed to making available all the HIV-related commodities they pledged for 2026,” Dr Muchima said.
U.S. Senior Advisor for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, Mr Brad Smith, reaffirmed Zambia’s place as a priority partner under the recently launched America First Global Health Strategy.
He stressed the need for interventions that gradually reduce reliance on donor funding while strengthening Zambia’s public health systems.
As part of its ongoing commitment, the U.S. will provide abridged funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from October 2025 to March 2026. Both governments and key stakeholders will use this six-month period to craft a multi-year strategic plan.
Support will also extend to Zambia’s frontline health workforce, disease surveillance, data systems and technical assistance. All U.S.-procured commodities for 2026 will be managed under PEPFAR.
In a major boost, Zambia is set to receive Lenacapavir, a six-month injectable antiretroviral for HIV prevention, directly from the U.S. government. This will complement supplies from the Global Fund, expected to cover over 22,000 individuals.
The combined investments aim to cut new infections significantly while reinforcing Zambia’s public health infrastructure.
