CIDRZ Champions Local Capacity for Zambia’s Health Future

By Alain Kabinda

For years, some of the most important questions about the health of Zambians have depended on scientific capacity beyond the country’s borders.

But inside a laboratory in Lusaka, a different ambition is taking shape—one in which Zambia increasingly has the ability to generate its own evidence, conduct specialised testing and develop solutions to the health challenges facing its people.

That ambition was at the centre of the CIDRZ Research Laboratories Open Day, where the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia showcased its laboratory and research capabilities under the theme “Discover, Connect, Collaborate.”

Speaking at the Open Day in Lusaka CIDRZ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Otto Chabikuli,  said “We are showcasing capability, potential and an opportunity to strengthen Zambia’s health research ecosystem.”

Dr Chabikuli described the goal as healthcare sovereignty—the ability of a country to generate more of the knowledge, evidence, testing and innovation needed to protect its population.

The COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions to global supply chains exposed how dependent health systems can become on international networks for medicines, equipment, testing and scientific expertise.

For Zambia, Dr Chabikuli believes those experiences raise a fundamental question: how much of the scientific capacity needed to protect the population should be available within the country?

“We believe the answer is significantly more. We need to do more here in Zambia,” he said.

Dr Chabikuli stressed that healthcare sovereignty should not mean withdrawing from international science. Instead, he said Zambia should engage with the global scientific community from a position of greater capability and confidence.

A stronger domestic research system would not necessarily replace international collaboration. Rather, it could give Zambian scientists and institutions a greater ability to determine which questions require local answers and to contribute evidence to international research.

Health research is most useful when it reflects the realities of the people it is intended to serve. Dr Chabikuli added that local research should increasingly take into account Zambia’s genetics, disease patterns and specific health challenges.

Dr Chabikuli said Zambia must also invest in its own scientists. 

Dr Chabikuli therefore called for stronger partnerships among Government, universities, healthcare institutions, researchers and other stakeholders.

That could help ensure that decisions about diagnosis, treatment and public health interventions are informed by evidence relevant to the local population.

For the Ministry of Health, strengthening this connection is already an important part of building a stronger health system.

And Ministry of Health Assistant Director for Pathology and Laboratory Services Dr Mweemba Muvwimi said CIDRZ was contributing to the country’s capacity to provide quality diagnostic services and respond to both current and future health challenges.

He noted Zambia’s progress in responding to diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, while recognising the role played by research institutions and partners in supporting national health programmes.

It is also measured by the people who operate it, the knowledge they generate and the health facilities that benefit from that knowledge.

According to Mr. Muvwimi, CIDRZ is supporting district laboratories through staff training, quality assurance and advanced laboratory services.

That support is particularly significant for facilities outside major urban centres, where access to specialised laboratory expertise and diagnostic services can be more difficult.

Dr Muvwimi said the work was helping demonstrate that Zambian institutions could develop and maintain high-quality laboratory services while supporting other health facilities across the country.

He identified collaboration with universities and researchers and the development of local scientific talent as essential components of healthcare sovereignty.

He said, should be to create an environment where important questions about the health of Zambians can increasingly be answered by scientists and institutions working in Zambia.

Universities provide knowledge and scientific talent. Hospitals provide clinical questions and patient experience. Government establishes policy and national priorities. Laboratories generate evidence. Communities ultimately live with the consequences of health decisions.

He said the CIDRZ open day should be viewed not as a one-way presentation, but as the beginning of a wider conversation about what different institutions can contribute.

“We want to hear from our partners, researchers, universities, healthcare institutions, Government and other stakeholders about the contributions, partnerships and ideas they can bring to Zambia and the continent,” he said.

Dr Muvwimi said quality should not be something demonstrated only when institutions open their doors to visitors or showcase their facilities.

“Quality should not only be demonstrated at an event or during an open day such as this one. Quality should be our daily habit,” he said.

Reliable diagnosis depends on quality testing. Quality testing depends on trained personnel, functioning equipment, proper procedures and effective quality assurance. And all of these require sustained investment.

For rural communities in particular, the strength of the laboratory system can determine how quickly a health condition is detected and how effectively treatment can begin.

The CIDRZ showcase suggests that some of the building blocks are already being put in place like Kalingalinga Clinic in Lusaka.

“The strength of our healthcare system will depend not only on the facilities and equipment we have, but also on the knowledge we generate, the scientists we develop and the partnerships we build,” he said.