By Ebi Kesiena
The United States has approved a new $1.5 billion grant to support Zambia’s health sector over the next five years, with both countries expected to formalise the agreement in a financing pact to be signed next month.
Zambia’s Health Minister, Elijah Muchima, confirmed on Monday that the memorandum of understanding, scheduled to run from April 2026 to 2030, will focus on strengthening HIV, malaria and tuberculosis prevention, enhancing disease-outbreak surveillance, and improving maternal and child health services nationwide.
Muchima noted that Zambia is among only 16 African nations selected for this level of partnership, describing the grant as a major boost to the country’s ongoing health reforms.
“I am proud to announce that Zambia is one of the 16 out of 54 countries in Africa to partner with the United States government in pursuit of improved global health,” he said during a meeting in Lusaka with a visiting U.S. delegation on global health security and diplomacy.
He added that the U.S. has already provided close to $7 billion in support for HIV and tuberculosis programmes over the past two decades, significantly contributing to higher life expectancy and bringing the country closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat.
“The Zambian government will work with the American government to implement health services in Zambia that assure good health,” Muchima stated, reaffirming the country’s commitment to fully aligning its national health priorities with the new partnership.
U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, explained that the upcoming agreement introduces a new model of cooperation in which both governments commit to consistent funding and measurable health outcomes.
According to Gonzales, the ultimate goal is to transition Zambia from an aid-dependent health system to one that is increasingly domestically driven and sustained.
“At the same time, it will cement the laboratory and data systems and staffing and medical interventions jointly developed over more than 20 years to ensure long-term sustainability in providing quality healthcare to the people of Zambia,” he said.
The financing package is expected to reinforce Zambia’s health infrastructure, safeguard progress made in combating infectious diseases, and help build a more resilient national health system over the next decade.
