Health Minster Dr. Elijah Muchima has handed over 115 new vehicles to Health Institutions and Provincial Health Offices procured at a cost of about USD$4 Million Dollars.
The vehicles have been procured in partnership with Global Fund, and have been distributed to institutions within the Ministry of Health across the country, to support and strengthen the implementation of the decentralization policy in the health sector.
In addition to the 115 vehicles, the Dr Muchima has handed over 10 vehicles procured with support from the World Bank, to be distributed to all the 10 Provincial Health Offices, to strengthen the response to gender-based violence that remains one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the country.
Dr Muchima handed over the 125 vehicles in the company of Health Permanent Secretaries for Administration Prof. Christopher Simoonga and for Technical Services Dr Kennedy Lishimpi.
Among the institutions to benefit from the 115 vehicles is the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), which has received 66 vehicles to support the last mile distribution of medicines and medical supplies.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Ndeke House grounds, Dr. Muchima explained that strengthening health systems is a key focus area for the New Dawn Government under the leadership President Hakainde Hichilema.
Dr. Muchima says the vehicles will help the provincial health teams to have the reliable transportation they need to effectively manage and oversee health service delivery in their regions.
Dr. Muchima says the last mile of the supply chain, which is the final leg of delivery to the end user, is critical for ensuring that essential medicines and medical supplies reach the people who need them most, adding that patients in remote or under-served areas lack access to pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics.
Dr. Muchima has applauded the World Bank for the support towards the fight against gender based violence.
The health minister says although Zambia has made progress in recent years in combating gender based violence, there is still much work to be done as many citizens in the country, especially women and girls continue to face physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse, with devastating impacts on their health, well-being, and ability to fully participate in society.
He has further praised Global Fund for being a steadfast partner in the efforts to strengthen the health sector systems and ensuring that all citizens have access to quality healthcare services.
Dr. Muchima expounds that this year the Government, through the Ministry of Health and Global Fund signed a USD$349 Million dollar grant for the control of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria which runs from 2024 to 2026, bringing the total value of the grants received from Global Fund to USD1.8 Billion Dollars since its inception in 2003.
And Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism Oversight Committee Chairperson Annie Sampa Says the organization’s desire is to see essential health commodities reach the last mile with improved efficiency and in good time.
Ms Sampa says the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) remains a strategic country based partner in the co-mandate of mobilizing additional resources to compliment the government through the health sector and a co-responsibility of overseeing mobilized resources for the planned and budgeted for utilization.
She says CCM remains at the service of Zambian people for their continued health and overall wellbeing-Ends.
