North-Western Province has recorded significant progress in key health indicators over the past year with notable improvements in maternal health disease control and health service delivery.
Speaking during the launch of the 2026-2028 Medium-Term Budget Plan and 2026 Budget in Solwezi district, Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary, Luckson Mulumbi highlighted the Province’s major achievements for the year 2024.
Mr Mulumbi said the Province recorded a substantial rise in fully immunised coverage, increasing from 38 percent in 2023 to 62 percent in 2024.
He added that maternal deaths also dropped from 57 to 55 during the same period, marking a step forward in the Province’s efforts to improve maternal and reproductive health services.
“In the area of communicable diseases, we recorded a significant drop in malaria incidence from 1,079 to 697 per 1,000 population,” Mr Mulumbi said.
He also reported that 91 percent of HIV-positive individuals were initiated on anti-retroviral therapy with an impressive 96 percent viral suppression rate achieved.
‘’Tuberculosis (TB) case notifications increased to 3,271, with a 90 percent treatment success rate. These strides earned the Province National recognition for TB performance,” he said.
He said the Province increased medicine availability at health facility levels currently standing at 88 percent in the Province due to increased budget allocation towards the procurement of medicines and medical supplies.
He added that staffing gaps in health facilities have also improved with over 2,000 health workers recruited in the Province by the government since 2022.
Mr Mulumbi emphasised the need to prioritise investments in disease surveillance and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) going forward to protect public health against emerging threats particularly those linked to climate change.
“Enhanced disease surveillance will be instrumental in early outbreak detection and timely responses. Simultaneously, investment in WASH infrastructure aims to reduce the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid, particularly in the wake of climate-related water disruptions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Health Director, Luckson Chidikita described the launch as a critical milestone in building resilient health systems that can adapt to shocks such as disease outbreaks and environmental changes.
The Provincial planning launch, held under the theme “Investing in Building Health Resilient Systems,” brought together stakeholders from the health sector, government, and cooperating partners.
The platform allows stakeholders to reflect on past performance and align priorities for the next budget cycle.
