Turkey, Zambia partner in health sector

Turkey and Zambia’s Ministries of Health have reaffirmed the need for co-operation in the field of health to enhance quality health care and delivery systems.

The two parties have since initiated the process of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation in the area of health aimed at strengthening health systems and introduction of a public health insurance scheme in Zambia among other aspects.

This is an outcome of the week-long study tour undertaken by a five-member delegation of Ministry of Health specialists and a World Bank Zambia office official to learn about the transformative reforms undertaken by Turkey to achieve universal health coverage.

Ministry of Health Director-Special Duties Mpuma Kamanga, who was also delegation leader, says the next steps for the Ministry of Health will be to pursue opportunities with the Government of the Republic of Turkey for collaboration under the framework of the MoU.

Dr. Kamanga said this when his team paid a courtesy call on Charge’ d’ Affaires of Zambia in Turkey , Bwalya Nondo, shortly after concluding the study tour of key health institutions at the weekend.

Briefing Mr. Nondo on the outcome of the tour, Dr. Kamanga says Zambia will also be looking at training opportunities for both medical and non-medical personnel in the field of health and pursuing health systems in addition to strengthening joint programmes in the field of child and maternal health.

He says the Ministry of Health will also be looking at exploring joint co-operation in the field of health financing, and introduction of a public health insurance scheme in Zambia.

Bwalya Nondo

And Mr. Nondo is happy that the delegation found Turkey as a perfect landscape in terms of lessons learnt in strengthening health systems in Zambia.

Mr. Nondo has stressed the need for consistent follow ups to ensure that the planned MOU for cooperation in the field of health, was realized and implemented.
child health.

This is contained in a statement issued to QFM News by Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Ankara, Turkey First Secretary for Press Jerry Munthali.