LUSAKA, Zambia

Zambia on Monday announced it will receive a new $1.5 billion, five-year health-sector grant from the US, with the two countries set to sign a financing agreement next month.

Health Minister Elijah Muchima said the forthcoming memorandum of understanding will run from April 2026 to 2030, with the funding aimed at consolidating gains in HIV, malaria and tuberculosis prevention as well as strengthening outbreak surveillance and maternal and child health services.

"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," Muchima said during a meeting between Zambian government officials and a visiting US delegation on global health security and diplomacy in the capital, Lusaka.

He noted that over the past two decades, Zambia has received nearly $7 billion in US support for HIV and TB prevention, contributing to improved life expectancy and progress toward 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," in alignment with the pact, he added.

US Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales said the new approach envisions both governments committing to funding levels and health-outcome performance objectives that support a transition from an aid-dependent health system to one led and sustained by the Zambian government.

"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.