Planning and data review meetings are critical tools in strengthening healthcare delivery systems. These sessions not only allow health facilities to track their progress against key performance indicators but also foster collaboration, identify service delivery gaps, and develop targeted strategies for improvement.

Recognising the importance of effective healthcare planning, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), in partnership with the Lusaka Provincial Health Office (LPHO) and with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently hosted a high-impact semi-annual planning meeting for healthcare providers in Luangwa District.

The meeting aimed to review the performance of the first two quarters, identify underperforming areas, and develop actionable plans to enhance service delivery.

Speaking at the official opening of the meeting, Luangwa District Health Director, Dr Ikasaya Ikasaya, emphasised the need for collective responsibility in identifying underperforming facilities and addressing existing gaps.

He underscored the importance of utilising available resources wisely, particularly in priority areas, to enhance healthcare services across all facilities.

Dr Ikasaya further encouraged all participants to engage actively, share their experiences, and collaborate effectively to achieve meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery.

And Lusaka Province Health Office HIV/TB Programme Lead, Dr Francis Mwape, encouraged participants to engage actively. “Let us discuss the challenges openly and find practical solutions. By the time we leave this meeting, we should have a clearer, stronger plan to help our communities,” he said.

Dr Mwape also expressed gratitude to CIDRZ for its continued support and commitment to strengthening health systems.

Speaking in an interview after the meeting Catherine Mbewe, Clinical Officer at Mphuka Rural Health Centre, appreciated the focus on men’s health screening, noting its potential to improve healthcare outcomes among male patients.

And another participant Francine Mumba, in charge at Kaunga Health Post in Luangwa District, highlighted the session’s emphasis on improving index case finding and proper use of screening tools.

Similarly, Emmanuel Moyo, acting in-charge at Luangwa High School Rural Health Centre, said he was inspired by the strategies other facilities are using. “I have learned new approaches to encourage men to seek healthcare earlier, including establishing men’s clinics,” he said.

As the meeting concluded, it left behind a renewed sense of purpose and a collective resolve among health professionals to use data-driven insights to enhance healthcare delivery.