The Minister of Health, Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, MP, received Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director General of the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), during a courtesy visit at Ndeke House in Lusaka. The meeting, held in the lead-up to the 3rd Regional Adolescent Health Indaba (RAHI 2025), focused on strengthening regional partnerships and improving health outcomes across East, Central, and Southern Africa.
During the discussions, Minister Muchima reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to building resilient health systems capable of withstanding public health emergencies. He emphasized the need for collaborative approaches in emergency preparedness, resource mobilization, and capacity building to ensure that the region is equipped to respond to outbreaks, pandemics, and other health threats. The Minister also highlighted the importance of adolescent health as a strategic focus, noting that investing in this demographic is critical for sustainable national development.
Dr. Kapologwe praised Zambia’s proactive measures in advancing health security and applauded the government’s ongoing reforms to strengthen healthcare delivery. He underscored ECSA-HC’s role in facilitating knowledge sharing, technical assistance, and policy alignment among member states, reinforcing the need for a coordinated regional response to health challenges.
The meeting explored practical initiatives, including cross-border health collaborations, regional disease surveillance systems, and strategies to enhance access to quality healthcare services. Both leaders agreed on the value of leveraging regional platforms, like RAHI 2025, to promote innovation, share best practices, and advance integrated approaches to public health.
RAHI 2025 is expected to convene policymakers, health professionals, and regional stakeholders to address adolescent health priorities, emergency preparedness, and public health security. Zambia’s engagement reflects its commitment to regional cooperation and its strategic role in shaping health policy frameworks that benefit the wider East, Central, and Southern African community.
This collaboration underscores Zambia’s determination to not only strengthen its national health system but also to contribute to a resilient, well-coordinated regional health network that addresses emerging public health challenges effectively.