Zambia News

Dr Lasuba’s courtesy call on Hon. Moses F. Moyo, Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia

Zambia continues to demonstrate strong political will and national ownership in advancing health and well-being. Increased investment in health financing, disease prevention, and system strengthening reflects the understanding that health is the foundation of development. WHO, now over seven decades old, shares this vision, working to save lives and promote well-being for all.

WHO convenes proposal writing workshop to advance climate-resilient WASH solutions for countries

Lusaka, Zambia - As floods, droughts, and rising temperatures threaten water security, energy, and public health across Southern Africa, governments and partners are taking bold steps to protect vulnerable communities through climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems.

Zambia has taken a historic step toward strengthening its health system with the endorsement of the National Health Compact by President Hakainde Hichilema. In August 2025, Zambia was selected by the World bank to be among the first countries to develop Health Compacts, strategic tools for mobilisingmobilizing resources to advance Universal Health Coverage.

Zambia has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to strengthen health systems and improve service delivery by ensuring health facilities have access to sustainable electricity. Launched in February 2024, the Health Facility Solar Electrification (HFSE) Project aims to provide reliable and renewable energy to health facilities, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Electricity is essential for critical services such as vaccine storage, maternal care, and emergency response.

On 13 November 2025, the WHO Country Office in Zambia led a walk-through visit to the Virology Laboratory at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. The visit, attended by WHO Country Representative, Dr Clement Peter Lasuba, WHO staff from the EPI cluster, the GPEI Coordinator, and representatives from the Ministry of Health’s Laboratory Services, aimed to review progress on the refurbishment of the National Polio Laboratory, a cornerstone of Zambia’s disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness.

In today’s interconnected world, outbreaks can spread faster than ever before, crossing borders, overwhelming systems, and disrupting lives. But as Zambia’s experience has shown time and again, the strongest defense against epidemics and pandemics begins not in boardrooms or laboratories, but in the community.

Lusaka – The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the malaria vaccine (R21/Matrix-M) as part of its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), marking a historic milestone in the country’s fight against malaria.

As cholera continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across the African Region, government representatives from water and health sectors, scientists, and partners are gathering in Livingstone, Zambia, from 20–22 October 2025, to chart a renewed path toward ending the disease.

The Regional Expert Consultation on Cholera Prevention and Control, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, marks a pivotal moment in the continent’s collective drive to eliminate cholera by 2030.

Zambia has taken a major step toward bolstering national health security with the launch of the National Simulation Exercise (SimEx) Framework on 4 September 2025 in Lusaka. This framework introduces a structured, nationwide approach to testing emergency preparedness systems before crises occur, ensuring that coordination structures, operating procedures, and frontline responders can function effectively during real public health threats.

Following the recent Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia intensified preparedness and surveillance in communities along the shared border. The outbreak, declared on 4 September 2025, was centered in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province which borders Northwestern province of Zambia.