The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, led by Hon. Margaret Kamar, met with the National Assembly of Zambia’s Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services, led by Hon. Dr. Christopher Kalila, for a benchmarking engagement marking the final activity of the three-day Parliamentary Oversight Mission to Strengthen Maternal and Neonatal Health Systems with the Integration of Traditional Medicine in Zambia. The mission was conducted in collaboration with the Africa CDC Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre in Lusaka.
During the session, parliamentarians from both institutions exchanged experiences, reflected on the mission’s findings, and explored mechanisms for joint oversight to ensure that key issues identified during field visits and stakeholder consultations are effectively followed up. Notably, the PAP Committee on Health was formally invited to participate in the 2026 meeting of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH), to be hosted by the National Assembly of Zambia—a move aimed at strengthening continental collaboration on health governance.
The Zambian Committee briefed the delegation from PAP and representatives of the Africa CDC on its priority areas, which include strengthening primary healthcare, combating communicable diseases such as malaria, HIV, TB, and COVID-19, improving maternal, child, and adolescent health outcomes, addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and integrating mental health and school health into national systems. These priorities are supported by increased health-sector budget allocations and multi-sectoral collaboration to advance universal health coverage.
Key Health Priority Areas Identified by the Zambian Parliament:
- Primary & Preventive Care: Strengthening integrated, community-based primary healthcare services.
- Communicable Diseases: Combating malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and managing emerging diseases such as COVID-19.
- Maternal & Child Health: Reducing maternal and child mortality while improving nutrition for mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents.
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Addressing the growing burden of hypertension, obesity, tobacco use, and other NCDs.
- Mental Health: Implementing the Mental Health Act, establishing dedicated funds, and enhancing early intervention services.
- School Health: Strengthening interventions targeting students through dedicated caucuses and programmes.
- Parliament’s Oversight Role and Actions:
Budgetary Support: Increasing national health budget allocations—from 8% in 2022 to nearly 12% in 2024.
- Legislation & Oversight: Approving health budgets, monitoring implementation, and passing key laws such as the Mental Health Act.
- Caucus Leadership: Establishing specialised groups such as the Zambia Parliamentary Caucus on School Health (ZPCSH) to champion thematic health issues.
- Cross-Cutting Strategies:
Multi-Sectoral Collaboration: Coordinating with education, water and sanitation, and agriculture sectors.
- Universal Health Coverage: Advancing equitable, accessible, and efficient healthcare delivery for all citizens.
The Oversight Mission placed strong emphasis on maternal and neonatal health, reproductive health, and health system strengthening—including the integration of traditional medicine. Delegates lauded Zambia’s notable progress and reiterated the urgent need for accelerated efforts to reduce maternal mortality and enhance health accountability across the continent.
