Zambia News

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

His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, conferred on Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) the Order of the Eagle of Zambia – 3rd Division.

The special ceremony took place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, during the 75th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC75).

The 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC75) officially opened on 25 August with a high-level ceremony graced by His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema, who welcomed delegates and reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to health as a driver of economic development. In his keynote address, President Hichilema highlighted Zambia’s achievements, including allocating 12% of the national budget to health, recruiting 20,000 health workers, and expanding health infrastructure.

In a vibrant display of unity and commitment to healthier lifestyles, the “Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge” was held on the sidelines of the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, that took place from 25 to 27 August 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia.

The 6-kilometre walk brought together over one thousand participants — including health leaders, policymakers, youth groups, and community members — all stepping forward to promote physical activity and raise awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

In the buildup of the RC75, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, joined the WHO Zambia Country Office team for a working lunch in Lusaka. The engagement offered a meaningful opportunity to connect, reflect, and align on shared health priorities in Zambia.

Dr Janabi described the lunch as “a valuable opportunity to engage and connect,” and expressed deep appreciation for the team’s dedication to the people of Zambia and their commitment to making a lasting impact.

In Katete District of Eastern province Zambia, health workers, peer educators, and community champions are rewriting the story of adolescent health, one initiative, one conversation, one life at a time.

A joint team from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently visited Katete District on a field monitoring mission. The purpose was to assess and support Quality Improvement (QI) projects designed to enhance adolescent health services.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) affect over a billion people globally, with schistosomiasis, an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms, remaining a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Praziquantel, the medication used to treat these infections, donated by Merck through WHO’s drug donation programme, is the cornerstone of Zambia’s fight against schistosomiasis.   But challenges in ordering and distribution have led to stock imbalances, expiry risks, and delays in mass drug administration campaigns, threatening the sustainability of the programme.