Zambia’s health sector to get funding from UK again, pitches British diplomat

The United Kingdom has taken a decision to resume funding to Zambia's health sector. The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet has announced the decision at the Intercontinental Hotel on February 5 stating that it (the decision) has come in the wake of the financial reforms that the Zambian government has put in place.

According to the 54-year old British diplomat Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, the traditional risks that arose from giving funding directly to government had been a source of concern to the British Government and possibly other Cooperating Partners as well. "This resumption of systems follows the suspension of funds which we communicated to the Ministry last year," he said, as reported by Lusaka Times.

Zambia's Minister of Health, Chitalu Chilufya opined that the Annual Consultative Meeting with strategic partners was an opportunity for the Ministry of Health. According to him, the Zambian government placed a high premium on ensuring that the citizens are healthy and productive as this would spur the government to attain economic and social development as espoused in the country's 7th National Development Plan.