Zambia National Public Health Institute

A World Bank mission team under the Africa CDC Regional Investment Financing Project today met with ZNPHI management to review progress on the US$86 million initiative aimed at supporting infrastructure development, strengthening infectious disease detection, surveillance, preparedness, and response systems.

Welcoming the mission, ZNPHI Director General Prof. Roma Chilengi expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the Government of Zambia for their continued support to the health sector. He noted that the partnership has significantly contributed to improving the health status of Zambians through investments in public health systems, emergency preparedness, surveillance, and workforce development.

Prof. Chilengi highlighted key achievements under the project, including strengthened emergency preparedness and response capacities, enhanced surveillance systems, progress in laboratory refurbishments, stakeholder engagement activities, and market engagement processes for the construction of new laboratory infrastructure. He also thanked the World Bank for supporting PhD training and environmental safeguard initiatives.

World Bank Task Team Leader Jane Chuma Mumbi commended ZNPHI for the progress made since the project became effective in 2020. She noted that out of the planned rehabilitation of 15 public health laboratories, eight have been completed, with high-quality work observed. She also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction of the ZNPHI office complex and encouraged continued efforts to meet project milestones.

During the week, the mission visited the ZNPHI office complex under construction in Chongwe and the national food laboratory to check on progress.

A team from Resolve to Save Lives and the Chandler Governance Group today paid a courtesy call on the ZNPHI Director General to discuss ongoing technical support for Zambia’s Health Tax Diagnostic initiative.

The discussions focused on strengthening excise tax administration on to***co, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages as part of efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.

Effective and well-enforced health taxes can help reduce the consumption of harmful products, improve population health outcomes, ease pressure on the healthcare system, and increase domestic resource mobilisation.

This is a triple win for Zambia: saving lives, reducing healthcare costs, and generating resources for sustainable development.

Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Dr Charles Mwinuna has officially opened the Cohort 41 Copperbelt One Health Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), underscoring the need for a skilled, sustainable public health workforce to address emerging and re-emerging health threats.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and response systems through the One Health approach, which promotes collaboration among the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Copperbelt Provincial Health Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Zambia Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), and the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), to enhancing epidemiological capacity, disease surveillance systems, and One Health approaches across the province and the country.

Dr. Mwinuna encouraged participants to fully engage in the training and apply their skills to improve public health preparedness and protect communities from disease outbreaks.

The Board, Management, and Staff of the Zambia National Public Health Institute extend their heartfelt condolences to the Ngoni Royal Family, the people of Eastern Province, and the nation at large on the passing of His Royal Highness, Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV (INKOSI YAMA NKOSI).

Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV was a distinguished leader whose wisdom, dedication, and service contributed significantly to cultural preservation, national development, and public health by advancing initiatives to prevent child marriage, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and improve community well-being.

We join the nation in mourning this great loss and honour his enduring legacy of leadership and service.

May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
INKOSI YAMA NKOSI

ZNPHI Strengthens Community Engagement Efforts in Western Province

Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), under the Public Health Policy, Diplomacy and Communication Cluster, led by Specialist-Public Health Policy, Research, and Programs, Dr Sianga Mutola are in Western Province to support district health teams in strengthening community engagement and risk communication efforts aimed at addressing public health threats.

As part of the activity, the team paid a courtesy call on the Provincial Health Director, Dr Samutumwa Njekwa, to discuss ongoing public health priorities and collaborative strategies for enhancing community-based interventions.

The team also witnessed the handover of enablers to the polyvalent Community-Based Volunteers (CBVs) in Mongu District. The support provided to CBVs is expected to enhance community outreach, health promotion, disease surveillance, and timely reporting of public health events at the community level.

ZNPHI remains committed to working closely with provincial and district health authorities to strengthen community participation and build resilient systems for public health preparedness and response.

Enumerator training sessions for the upcoming Sample-Based Registration System (SRS) baseline census were successfully conducted in Ndola and Kabwe in collaboration with experts from the University of Zambia (UNZA).

The training equipped enumerators with essential skills in census methodology, household listing, pregnancy, birth and death reporting, digital data collection, and community engagement strategies to ensure accurate and high-quality data collection.

Practical exercises, mock interviews, and field supervision guidance were also provided to strengthen preparedness for fieldwork.

UTH Echo Hub Hosts ZNPHI/MoH and Partners to Align Ebola Awareness and Case Management Training.

Stronger together for a healthier Zambia!
​The UTH Echo Hub recently brought together the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), the Ministry of Health, and our dedicated partners for a crucial, collaborative session.

The focus? Aligning our national Ebola awareness strategies and refining case management guidelines to ensure absolute preparedness.

​Equipping our frontline heroes
​Standard training isn't always enough when it comes to rare, high-consequence threats.

That is why the ECHO platform remains a vital strategic avenue for us. It allows us to seamlessly deliver "low-frequency, high-dose" knowledge directly to healthcare workers and communities empowering them with specialized, high-impact skills exactly when and where they need it most.

​We are incredibly grateful to all the partners who showed up, stood with us, and lent their expertise to kick off this vital, Zambian-centric Ebola ECHO series.

Together, we are building capacity, strengthening our response systems, and protecting our communities.

​

Community engagement meetings were successfully held in Mumbwa District this week as part of preparations for the upcoming mortality baseline census and community development activities.

The SRS Community Engagement Lead conducted courtesy visits and stakeholder meetings with Chiefs, district authorities, health workers, teachers, faith leaders, youth groups, and community representatives to strengthen collaboration and promote community awareness.

Traditional leaders pledged full support and committed to mobilizing their communities for active participation in the census. Stakeholders also agreed to serve as key information channels to ensure households are well informed.

The meetings highlighted the importance of accurate data in supporting effective planning, health interventions, and community development.

The Public Health Policy, Diplomacy and Communications Cluster at the Zambia National Public Health Institute yesterday handed over enablers to Polyvalent Community-Based Volunteers (CBVs) in support of strengthening community-level public health interventions.

The enablers, which included gumboots, shirts, and bags, will support CBVs in carrying out disease surveillance, health promotion, risk communication, and emergency response activities within their respective communities.

Speaking during the handover, the Acting Director General Dr Nyambe Sinyange encouraged CBVs to remain approachable and connected to their communities by staying informed on diseases captured within the health system. He emphasized the importance of continuous community education, challenging harmful practices, and serving as trusted messengers of health information.

He further urged the volunteers to understand and respect community norms and cultures while promoting infection prevention and control measures, especially in cross-border communities where volunteerism plays a critical role in strengthening public health response systems.

ZNPHI remains committed to empowering frontline community volunteers and strengthening community-based public health systems across Zambia.