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The Permanent Secretary for Technical Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, has highlighted the crucial role immunization has played in the success of child survival indicators in Zambia.
Dr. Lishimpi made this statement during a meeting to disseminate findings on the Immunization 5-Point Plan, a collaborative effort between the Zambia Red Cross Society and the American Red Cross Society.
Dr. Lishimpi emphasized that immunization is a vital primary healthcare service that significantly contributes to the prevention and control of many communicable diseases in children.
He noted that child mortality rates have declined by over 70% in the past 25 years, with the under-five mortality rate falling from 168 per 1,000 live births in 2001 to 64 per 1,000 in 2024. Additionally, the infant mortality rate has decreased from 95 to 29 per 1,000 live births during the same period.
Dr. Lishimpi attributed the progress to strategic partnerships and support that have enabled the national immunization program to expand its scope through the introduction of new vaccines, infrastructure improvements, and the availability of cold chain equipment.
He called for continued strengthening of the immunization program to ensure its sustained contribution towards achieving child health targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Zambia Red Cross Society Secretary General, Cosmas Sakala, represented by the organization’s Director of Programming, Dr. Jack Bbabbi, explained that the 5-Point Plan was developed and piloted in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners.
He said the plan’s core components include mapping and identification, coordination and action, social mobilization, and evaluation.
Mr. Sakala highlighted that the 5-Point Plan has demonstrated the potential of combining community knowledge, evidence, and coordinated action to achieve significant results.
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
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