USA TELLS ZAMBIA TO APPLY FOR PANDEMIC FUND
By Paul Shalala
United States Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN has encouraged Zambia to apply to access part of the 450 million dollars Pandemic Fund when the American government issues out a call for applications in a few weeks time.
Dr. YELLEN says the funding will help Zambia and other developing countries boost their health security systems and strengthen their preparedness for diseases.
Speaking when she officially opened the Emergency Operations Center at the Zambia National Public Health Institute in Lusaka, Dr. YELLEN said the United States is investing in global health security due to the high cost of pandemics.
She added that the center will help in coordinating, responding and managing heath emergencies in Zambia and in the region.
And Zambia National Public Health Institute Director General ROMA CHILENGI said the institution is tracking the Cholera outbreak in neighbouring Malawi and offering technical assistant to the country.
Dr. CHILENGI said the Emergency Operations Center has also helped build the capacity of Malawi’s institute to respond to the ongoing Cholera outbreak.