First ever Institute for Digital Health in Zambia commissioned

Government has commissioned the first ever Institute for Digital Health in Zambia at the University Teaching Hospital built at a cost of about 5 million kwacha.

Constructed through the partnership of the Zambian government and the U.S government through PEPFAR, USAID and CDC among others, the institute which is an extension of the Community Health after outcomes (ECHO) is an initiative which will see the use of video conferencing technology to build capacity in Zambia’s public health sector.

Speaking during the commissioning of the institute today, Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo assured government’s commitment to supporting the establishment of facilities which will foster the use of technology in health.

Ms Masebo is certain that the building will be a hub of various innovations in digital interventions that will propel the delivery of quality and timely health services to the people of Zambia.

The Minister believes digitalizing health systems is a key component in achieving universal health coverage.

Speaking earlier, U.S Embassy Charge d’ affaires, Martin Dale states that the ECHO for digital health initiative which will see the use of video conferencing technology is a game changer for resource limited settings where distance is a barrier to providing mentorship as it bridges knowledge gaps between experts and providers in remote areas.