Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde says Zambia like many other developing countries has a high disease burden and other health problems that require evidence based interventions.
Speaking during the National Health Research Authority Council induction in Lusaka today, Dr. Kasonde says for interventions to occur, appropriate, relevant, timely feasible and well coordinated research is required to inform policy makers and other stakeholders on how to prevent and manage health problems in an effort to provide quality healthcare to the people.
Dr. Kasonde points out that his ministry in carrying out its mandate of providing healthcare to the people of Zambia has realized that evidence based decision making is the most rational and professional approach to attaining positive health outcomes.
He however, explains that most of the research programmes are still donor driven with little potential to lead to improvement in the lives of the Zambian people.
He notes that Zambian researchers have continued to lag behind in terms of research capacity and innovations.
Dr. Kasonde says Zambia needs to take advantage of its strategic geographical location, good infrastructure, stable political environment, a good track in healthcare to find its appropriate nitch in healthcare.
He has further reiterated government’s commitment to fostering health research and development.
And council Chairman Professor Everist Njelesani has assured the Minister that the council will diligently carry out its duties.