Zambia News

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.

In the lush fields of Chipangali, in Eastern Province, farmers who once depended on tobacco for their livelihoods are now exploring healthier, more sustainable alternatives, thanks to a bold initiative led by the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme, in partnership with Zambia’s Ministries of Health and Agriculture.

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. 

In a vibrant gathering at Urban Bliss Hotel in Kabwe, 31 passionate minds came together from 9 to 11 September 2025 to shape the future of digital health in Zambia. The Digital Health Blueprint Convergence Workshop, hosted by the Ministry of Health with support from WHO, was more than just a meeting, it was a movement.

In late August, Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city became the heartbeat of African public health as it hosted the seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, the highest decision-making body on health on the continent.

From 25–27 August 2025, the Mulungushi International Conference Centre welcomed over 700 delegates, including ministers of health from 47 countries of the African Region, WHO leadership, civil society, and development partners to address challenges and endorse key health resolutions to improve and shape the future of health in the region.

During his visit to Lusaka for the 75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa (#RC75), WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,  met with members of the WHO Zambia Country Office. The meeting provided an opportunity to recognize the team’s contributions and hear directly from staff on key issues affecting their work.

Dr Tedros expressed heartfelt appreciation for the Zambia team’s dedication and service, especially in the face of global funding challenges