Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building sustainable and resilient health systems as Zambia hosts the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) in-country mission.

Acting Minister of Health Cornelius Mweetwa said the mission comes at a crucial time when African nations are intensifying efforts to mobilize domestic resources, improve public finance management and enhance accountability in the health sector.

Mr Mweetwa revealed that Zambia is developing a Sustainability Financing Plan and piloting the Big Push Accountability and Monitoring Framework, both aimed at securing predictable funding for health services and ensuring measurable results.

Mr Mweetwa explained that the Sustainability Financing Plan will align health financing with national development goals, integrate ongoing public finance reforms and leverage the National Health Compact to boost resource mobilization.

He noted that while malaria remains a major public health challenge, investments in malaria financing also strengthen surveillance systems, laboratories, supply chains, and community health structures.

Mr Mweetwa thanked ALMA for its continued support and expressed confidence that the mission will deliver practical outcomes to reinforce Zambia’s health system.

Speaking at the same event, ALMA Executive Secretary Joy Phumaphi commended Zambia’s leadership in the fight against malaria, highlighting its progress in meeting World Health Organization (WHO) reduction targets and its success in uniting multiple sectors toward a malaria-free future.

She pointed to the establishment of the End Malaria Council and Fund, championed by the Head of State, as an example of how African nations can independently address health challenges by bringing together government, private sector, civil society and religious groups.