The Regional Three Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance Conference for Lusaka and Eastern Provinces has officially commenced in Lusaka under the theme “Moving together towards sustainable quality health and care: Inspiring improvements at all levels of health and care.”

The gathering brings together healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to review progress, share best practices, and strengthen healthcare systems through innovative and sustainable quality improvement initiatives.

Speaking at the official opening, Acting Permanent Secretary for Lusaka Province, Mr Alex Chipo Mapushi, underscored the vital role of the conference in enhancing health service delivery.

He noted that quality improvement initiatives help transform healthcare systems by focusing on key principles such as safety, effectiveness, timeliness, equity, and patient-centredness.

“Quality improvement plays a crucial role in addressing financial challenges and clinical inefficiencies,” Mr Mapushi said. “Eliminating wasteful practices and promoting innovation leads to more sustainable healthcare systems and ultimately saves lives.”

He highlighted that this year’s conference would feature the dissemination of numerous improvement project results spanning key areas such as HIV, adolescent health, mental health, and maternal and newborn care.

Mr Mapushi urged delegates to share and adopt the best practices that can be implemented in their respective facilities to drive continuous improvement in healthcare delivery.

Lusaka Provincial Health Director Dr Aspha Simulyamana Choonga welcomed the delegates and reiterated the conference’s purpose as a collaborative platform to exchange knowledge and ideas aimed at strengthening health outcomes at both individual and community levels.

He emphasised the Ministry of Health’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), aligning with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“UHC means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship,” Dr Choonga explained. “It is about ensuring cost-effective, patient-centred care accessible as close to the family as possible.”

Dr Choonga also called for multilateral collaboration and the use of local resources to ensure sustainable quality healthcare across all health system levels, encouraging both physical and virtual delegates to engage and share ideas actively throughout the conference.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Provincial Health Director, Dr Matthews Ng’ambi, applauded the conference for promoting what he described as “science in action.” He praised the quality and relevance of the presentations, particularly those focused on vulnerable populations and health system strengthening.

“It is gratifying to see so many young scientists participating. That tells us our future is secure,” Dr Ng’ambi said. “But the real challenge is knowledge translation,ensuring that the evidence shared today becomes better services for our communities tomorrow.”

Dr Ng’ambi also thanked participants for their contributions and urged a stronger commitment to learning from past mistakes to improve service delivery.

And representing Region Three delegates, Dr Victoria Manzi, Paediatric HIV Coordinator, Lusaka Provincial Health Office extended her appreciation to the government and partners, including CIDRZ and FHI 360, for their continued support in making the conference successful. She noted that while progress has been made, sustainability remains a critical concern, particularly in light of recent funding disruptions that affected some projects.

“Our discussions must not end here,” Dr Manzi stressed. “We need to focus on innovation, sustainability, and expansion. Let us ensure that what we learn here is implemented in our health facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery for all Zambians.”

Dr Manzi further called on all stakeholders to ensure that the lessons and innovations discussed are scaled up and adapted beyond the conference setting, providing long-term benefits for the wider population.

The Quality Improvement, hosted by the Ministry of Health with support from the American people through PEPFAR and in collaboration with organisations including CIDRZ, FHI 360, DISC, JHPIEGO, and QI Zambia, will run from 5th to 8th August 2025. It is expected to showcase a wide array of improvement projects and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at advancing the quality of health services across the two provinces.