The Ministry of Health (MoH), in partnership with the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) through its U.S. Government-funded Tuberculosis Local Organisation Network (TBLON) Project, is strengthening tuberculosis (TB) services across Zambia.

Recently, MoH and the TBLON Project conducted intensified Active Case Finding (ACF) activities in Kafue District, one of Zambia’s high-burden TB areas. While the initiative successfully increased TB detection, it also placed significant pressure on the district’s diagnostic system. Sample backlogs grew, turnaround times slowed, and laboratories began operating beyond their intended capacity.

In response, MoH, working closely with the Kafue District Health Office (KDHO) and Lusaka Provincial Health Office (LPHO), implemented targeted interventions to strengthen laboratory services and improve data quality.

Key measures included redistributing samples to laboratories with available capacity, extending testing hours, installing a new 16-module GeneXpert machine at Kafue Estates Clinic, and enhancing data management through register reviews, healthcare worker retraining, and strengthened reporting processes.

These interventions significantly improved the district’s TB diagnostic response by reducing testing backlogs, increasing laboratory capacity, improving data accuracy, and ensuring faster access to diagnosis and treatment for people affected by TB.

Through strong collaboration and coordinated action, MoH, CIDRZ, and district health teams are building more resilient health systems and accelerating Zambia’s efforts to end tuberculosis.