Effective procurement and distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies is critical for maintaining the health of Zambia’s citizens. As part of the U.S. government’s worldwide Global Health Initiative, USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project works to ensure an uninterrupted supply of health commodities to and within Zambia. Partnering with the Zambian Government, this activity strengthens logistics information systems and the use of data-driven decision-making, while providing reliable procurement services and technical assistance.

In support of Zambia’s Health Sector Supply-Chain Strategy and Implementation Plan (2019-2021), GHSC-PSM provides direct support to Medical Stores Limited (MSL), an autonomous agency of the Government of Zambia. MSL is responsible for the nationwide storage and distribution of essential drugs and supplies, including HIV and malaria test kits, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, anti-retroviral drugs, and family-planning commodities. GHSC-PSM’s support includes:

• building the capacity of Ministry of Health staff to oversee logistics systems and commodity management;

• support for annual commodity forecasting and quantification processes;

• procurement and installation of essential infrastructure, including cold rooms, walk-in freezers, pre-fabricated storage units, material- handling equipment, racking, and regional warehouses; and,

• provision of third-party logistics for transportation of commodity orders from the central warehouse in Lusaka to regional warehouses and provincial hospitals.

JOURNEY TO SELF-RELIANCE

USAID believes every person, every community, and every country wants to be empowered to lead their own future. We support self-reliance by walking alongside our friends on their development journey, as evolving but enduring partners.  As partners on this journey, we are empowering host-country governments and our partners to achieve locally-sustained results, helping countries mobilize public and private revenues, strengthening local capacities, and accelerating enterprise-driven development.  This approach fosters stable, resilient, and prosperous countries that are more self-reliant, and prioritizes enduring partnerships.