Zambia Launches National Operational Plan
During a launch event in Lusaka, Dr. Carolyn Bolton, interim chief executive officer for the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), holds a copy of Zambia’s newly minted national operational plan for PEN-Plus as Dr. Elijah Muchima, the country’s Minister of Health, cuts a ceremonial ribbon. Onlookers include Dr. Fastone Goma (second from left), principal investigator of the PEN-Plus Project at CIDRZ. (Photo courtesy of CIDRZ)
Zambia health officials recently took a significant step forward in PEN-Plus implementation, with the launch of a national operational plan to support and expand care for people living with severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases.
The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, or CIDRZ, a PEN-Plus implementing partner working with the NCDI Poverty Network, hosted a launch event in Lusaka in July.
According to a CIDRZ media release, Dr. Elijah Muchima, Zambia’s Minister of Health, said the launch of the PEN-Plus National Operational Plan 2025–2030 aligns with the PEN-Plus strategy of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, which all 47 Member States adopted in 2022 as their key strategy for bringing lifesaving care closer to rural communities that need it the most.
“The plan not only aligns with the regional strategy but also accelerates its implementation at the national level,” Dr. Muchima stated. “It ensures that our frontline health workers are equipped, trained, and supported to provide consistent, high-quality care, using standardized protocols, reliable medical supplies, and ongoing mentorship.”