Global Fund Praises Government for Delivering Health Projects

The Global Fund has commended the Zambian government for efficiently implementing major health infrastructure projects under the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM).

Global Fund Senior Manager Dr Bertha Simwaka praised the Ministry of Health for delivering significant infrastructure developments, including two medical hubs in Luanshya and Kabompo, incinerators, solar installations at over 500 health facilities, and six oxygen plants.

"In the past, there have been challenges in terms of delivering on big projects like this one, but I think for the first time, they were timely and also efficient," Dr Simwaka said during a courtesy call on Monday.

She disclosed that discussions have commenced on the next funding allocation cycle, with a new allocation expected soon.

Acting Minister of Health Cornelius Mweetwa said President Hakainde Hichilema is committed to ensuring that resources from partnerships are used prudently.

"President HH insists that to have a healthy economy, you need a healthy citizenry because the human resource factor of a nation is the number one resource endowment in a country," Mr Mweetwa said.

He added that the President has directed government to put in place measures to safeguard public resources and reduce pilferage of medicines and other health resources.

Mr Mweetwa noted that President Hichilema has been leading a robust crusade against corruption, including initiating a forensic audit in the Ministry of Health through ZAMMSA.

Dr Simwaka said the C19RM funding, which provided over $100 million investment to the Ministry of Health, will end in June this year.

She emphasised the need to understand government's strategic direction before new grants are signed, noting that Zambia's current grants will end in December and new ones must be signed by then.