WHO Zambia Newsletter – 3rd Quarter 2026 (Jul- Sept)
WHO | Regional Office for Africa - Making People Healthier ·
WHO Zambia Newsletter – 3rd Quarter 2026 (Jul- Sept) sitengeg@who.int Tue, 20/10/2026 - 15:28 During the third quarter, WHO Zambia supported key initiatives that delivered tangible results for health security, universal health coverage and health system strengthening. Together, these efforts demonstrate how WHO's technical leadership is helping Zambia build a more resilient, evidence-based and people-centred health system. WHO strengthened Zambia's capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats. More than 380 health workers were trained in Ebola preparedness and response, simulation exercises tested readiness, and disease surveillance systems were strengthened through epidemic intelligence and event-based surveillance training. Community preparedness was also expanded through training of 115 master trainers nationwide. These strengthened capacities enabled four Ebola alerts to be promptly detected, reported and investigated; all samples tested negative. Zambia completed the final round of its national polio vaccination campaign, reaching approximately 4.1 million children under five in six priority provinces. WHO provided technical support throughout, helping sustain progress toward a polio-free future. WHO supported completion of the national STEPS Survey on noncommunicable diseases and mental health risk factors across all ten provinces, generating critical evidence for future policies and investments. Further, with WHO support in Health workforce, Zambia ranked first in the WHO African Region and third globally in National Health Workforce Accounts reporting, reflecting growing leadership in data-driven health planning. WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and ZNPHI, strengthened engagement with traditional leaders, including those in Nalubamba Chiefdom. These partnerships advanced community-centred One Health approaches and established a practical model for early threat detection, outbreak prevention, and resilience to climate- and health-related risks. WHO and the Government of Zambia signed a MoU fulfilling commitments under the Host Country Agreement that will reduce operational costs enable greater investment in national health priorities. The quarter highlighted the dedication of frontline health workers, exemplified by laboratory technologist Elicah Kaseba, whose story reflects the resilience of rural health services and the importance of continued investment in primary health care. WHO Zambia 2026 Quarter 3 Newsletter (19.99 MB)
Источник: WHO | Regional Office for Africa - Making People Healthier