The United Nations and the European Union have signed a 44 million Euro agreement aimed at accelerating progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Zambia.
The programme will be implemented by the Zambian government and UNICEF in ten districts of Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces. Among the districts in the Copperbelt Province to benefit from the project are Masaiti, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Kitwe and Chingola. In Lusaka Province the districts include Chongwe, Kafue, Chilanga and Lusaka.
The project will be preceded by an inception period where the specific needs of each of the health facilities to be targeted would be established so that the project is based on the local needs of the community.
The programme will also take on board current initiatives already being implemented across the country, scale them up in the target districts as well as initiate other evidence-based approaches.
There will be regular monitoring of the impact of the programme which will also include a survey on satisfaction of the health services accessed, according to the joint statement issued by the United Nations and the European Union.
The European Head of Delegation to Zambia, Ambassador Gilles Hervio, said that Zambia faced great challenges in meeting the MDGs.
Ambassador Hervio said she was pleased that the EU is contributing to enhancing the Zambian government’s effort to improving the health of mothers and children.
“This project is unique, flexible and responsive to local needs making it relevant and
an appropriate intervention”, she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, Joseph Katema, said that Zambia is witnessing a commitment by government with its partners in signing a memorandum of understanding and agreement of co-operation to improve the health of mothers and children.
“The 44 Million Euros will help in tackling the attainment of the MDGs to reduce maternal deaths, infant and child death, abject poverty and hunger. The MDGs are intertwined and one cannot be achieved without tackling the other,” said Mr Katema.
The United Nations resident coordinator Kanni Wignaraja praised the joint efforts of the government of Zambia, the European Union and United Nations agencies involved in making the MDG partnership possible.
“We hope this initiative will give Zambia fresh momentum to reach the MDGs in health and nutrition. It is key that more vulnerable households have improved and fair access to better quality health care services,” said Wignaraja.
