Zambia

Mwaiseni

We strengthen health systems and empower frontline health workers to improve lives across the country.

Selected Achievements

  • We expanded HIV prevention by developing a VMMC eLearning package still in use by the Ministry of Health today and supporting them to conduct over 195,000 voluntary medical male circumcisions (VMMC), averting an estimated 24,375 new HIV infections by 2025.

  • We built health workforce capacity by training more than 2,700 providers in VMMC, tuberculosis, HIV, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and HIV testing and counseling.

  • Jhpiego expanded the number of nurses prescribing antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive clients from 212 to 985.

  • Jhpiego strengthened health systems and education by revising Zambia’s midwifery curriculum, integrating HIV content into pre-service training, and piloting SmartCare, the country’s national electronic health record system.

Our Work

Expanding Access to Family Planning Options

With funding from CIFF and implemented by Jhpiego and PSI, the DISC project promotes self-injectable contraceptives (DMPA-SC) as a self-care innovation to improve access to family planning services in Zambia. It empowers women to manage their reproductive health independently while reducing the burden on health systems.

  • The DISC project promotes self-injection of DMPA-SC as a convenient and discreet family planning option for women. By increasing awareness and provider support, the initiative is expanding access to contraception and empowering women to take greater control of their reproductive health.

  • The project covers 30 districts and 900 facilities across 6 provinces.

  • The project uses empathy training, which employs role play, job aids, and practicums to enhance provider-client interactions.

  • DISC focuses on behavior change by addressing barriers such as fear, stigma, and lack of information through targeted messaging and provider support.

Preventing Maternal Deaths from Postpartum Hemorrhage

The AMPLI-PPHI (Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Hemorrhage Impact) project aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity from postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) by improving access to quality-assured PPH drugs. It operates across six countries, including Zambia, focusing on evidence generation, enabling environments, and market preparation.

  • AMPLI-PPHI is helping Zambia reduce maternal mortality by introducing innovative approaches to prevent postpartum hemorrhage in 30 facilities across Lusaka Province.

  • Through evidence generation, we demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of three World Health Organization-recommended PPH drugs.

  • AMPLI-PPHI builds awareness and capacity among stakeholders at all levels through partnerships and knowledge dissemination.

  • We focus on market preparation to ensure sustained availability and access to quality-assured PPH drugs.

Strengthening Measles Surveillance

The GAVI Measles RDT Pilot project evaluates the deployment of measles IgM rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in Zambia to enhance real-time case confirmation and strengthen measles-rubella surveillance systems.

  • A pilot program in Muchinga and Luapula Provinces using rapid diagnostic tests aims to improve measles surveillance. The project strengthens early detection and response capabilities, supporting national immunization goals.

  • Phase one of the project included system mapping, readiness assessments, and strategy development. Phase two is now under way and includes training, deployment, and evaluation of RDTs.

Enhancing HIV Services Through Digital Solutions

The Global Reach II (GRII) Project aims to strengthen Zambia’s human resources for health (HRH) systems to support HIV, tuberculosis, and other disease responses. It focuses on improving healthcare worker competencies, HR information systems, and remote mentorship through telehealth.

  • Global Reach supports Zambia’s HIV response by strengthening human resources for health and introducing tele-mentoring for providers.

  • Key features of the project include strengthening human resources information systems by enhancing licensing, continuing professional development tracking, disciplinary systems, and decision-making tools.

  • The project involves capacity building by training nurses to prescribe antiretroviral therapy (ART) and provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and expands ECHO-based platforms for tele-mentoring, which provides continued professional development and mentorship.

  • Over five years, more than 600 health workers have been trained, and 11,000 individuals have been reached through the ECHO platform.

Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality

Family Health and Nutrition (FHN) Project supports Zambia in achieving high-impact reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition outcomes. It focuses on strengthening health systems and technical capacity to reduce maternal and child mortality.

  • The FHN project provides targeted technical assistance to reduce maternal and child mortality in 48 districts in Eastern, Luapula, Muchinga, and Southern provinces.

  • We deliver technical Assistance through co-located teams with provincial and district health offices and use innovating models such as the ECHO tele-mentoring model to scale up technical support.

Improving Access to Lifesaving Health Services

MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership

  • MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, funded by the United States Government, is a global mechanism that saves lives and improves access to quality, integrated health services by distributing life-saving commodities, medicines, and vaccines, and providing critical health care services for pregnant mothers and children under five. The project provides safe childbirth for mothers and babies, vaccinates children, treats deadly illnesses and malnutrition, and controls disease outbreaks.

    Learn more here: Momentum Country and Global Leadership

Country Director

Lastina Lwatula

Country Director
"Jhpiego Zambia has empowered over 985 nurses to deliver life-saving HIV care, supported over 195,000 VMMCs, and continues to strengthen health systems for lasting impact.”
— Lastina Lwatula, Country Director, Jhpiego Zambia