Zambia Secures $1.5 Billion Health Deal with US

On Thursday, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Lusaka, Zambia, committing the US to provide approximately $1.5 billion in support for Zambia’s health sector over the next five years. The Zambian government will also contribute financially to this initiative.

This agreement concludes a contentious public debate that arose after the leakage of an earlier draft, which faced criticism from civil society organizations and activists. Concerns were raised regarding reports that US health funding might be tied to preferential access for American companies to Zambia’s mineral resources.

Health Minister Roma Chilengi stated that this agreement is part of a broader shift in the US's approach to overseas assistance, particularly following the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The US has moved towards new bilateral financing arrangements that require partner governments to take on a larger share of health program funding.

Similar agreements have been made with several African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, although some nations like Ghana and Zimbabwe have declined such proposals due to concerns over data sharing conditions.