HEALTH MINISTER ELIJAH MUCHIMA SAYS THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH SECTOR THROUGH RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
SPEAKING IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS RAISED BY THE RESIDENT DOCTORS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA (RDAZ), MR. MUCHIMA SAID THE MINISTRY RECENTLY HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RDAZ EXECUTIVE TO ADDRESS KEY ISSUES SUCH AS SETTLING-IN ALLOWANCES, LAND ALLOCATION, AND WORKPLACE SUPPORT.
HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECRUITED OVER 20,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS—A RECORD-BREAKING MILESTONE SINCE INDEPENDENCE.
MUCHIMA HAS NOW CALLED FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING WITH RDAZ TO FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS AND ENHANCE DIALOGUE.
THE MINISTER OUTLINED KEY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING STRONGER COLLABORATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, TRANSITIONING VOLUNTEERS INTO FORMAL ROLES, AND ALLOCATING 2,000 NEW TREASURY-FUNDED HEALTH POSITIONS IN 2025.
HE EMPHASIZED THAT THE MINISTRY VALUES THE CONTRIBUTION OF ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERS, AND IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A RESILIENT HEALTH SYSTEM FOR ALL ZAMBIANS.