Government, has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising primary healthcare through the devolution of health care services to local authorities.
Health Minister Sylvia Masebo says this commitment is evident in the allocation of resources and initiatives aimed at improving healthcare services.
Ms Masebo notes that primary health care is the foundation of any health care system and an efficient and effective vehicle in the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. (UHC) which the Zambia aims to achieve by 2030.
ZANIS reports that the minister was speaking in a speech read for her by the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Christopher Simoonga, during the opening of the Inter- Ministerial Dialogue on Primary Health Care in Lusaka today.
Ms Masebo noted that primary health care is the first point of contact for the people seeking health care services and promotes wellness, preventing disease and managing chronic conditions yet remains underfunded.
She added that the government will play its part in attaining universal health coverage so that all citizens have equal and equitable access to health care needed without financial burden.
“The holding of this workshop is timely as it will facilitate accelerating the attainment of universal health coverage for our beloved country, I want to thank the organisers of this workshop for their intervention as I urge the three permanent secretaries in the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Local government and Ministry of Finance and National Planning to discuss how best we can collaborate and deliver quality health services to the people” she said.
Ms Masebo stated that the goal of the meeting is to contribute to the efficient and effective implementation of the devolution of primary health care services.
And USAID charge de ‘Affairs to Zambia Linnisa Wahid said the United States government remains a committed partner in advancing the capacity of Zambia’s health care system to deliver essential health services to Zambians.
Ms Wahid said the USAID has partnered with Zambia in many areas such as advancing maternal and child health, family planning HIV/AIDS, malaria among others.
Speaking at the same event, Propel Health Representative Sohia Cosmas said Zambia is poised to benefit from the Propel Health Care Initiative project through strategic health care formulation and advocacy.
Ms Cosmas explained that this is to harness the potential of primary health care in order to drive tangible improvement in the health sector.
