POLITICAL WILL HAS ENFORCED HEALTH SERVICES IN ZAMBIA

By Daily News Reporter

Zambia has successfully achieved the second and third 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets; increased annual TB notifications from under 40,000 in 2021 to 53,000 in 2023; reducing the under-5 mortality rate from 68 to 58 per 1,000 live births between 2015 and 2021; achieving a COVID-19 immunization coverage of over 80%; and containing and limiting the devastating outcomes of the recent 2023-2024 cholera outbreak.

The Ministry of Health has overseen heath sector financing increasing from 7.0% in 2021, to 11.8% of the national budget. This is moving closer to the 15% Abuja declaration target.

In addition, Ministry Of Health with its development partners are supporting the sector to improve health systems. So far Zambia is still besieged with many health challenges including; high Malaria burden, with 30,400 cases per day; 50% of new HIV infections affecting young people; high Maternal mortality with 278 deaths per 100,000 live births; an increase in non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance and neglected tropical diseases.