Government Health Communicators Trained

Professor Christopher Simoonga

Communication experts from various healthcare facilities have been urged to publicize the government's milestone achievements, especially in Maternal and Newborn Health, Blood Bank Services, and Drug Supply, which are among President Hichilema’s priorities in the health sector.

The government is set to enhance the quality of healthcare service delivery and improve the flow of information within the health system, with a draft bill on National Health Services already in the works.

Speaking in Chongwe at the official opening of a three-day Capacity Building Workshop for Ministry of Health Public Relations Officers (PROs), Permanent Secretary for Administration, Professor Christopher Simoonga, encouraged public relations practitioners to be more proactive in sharing information as they serve the public.

Professor Simoonga emphasized the importance of having and sharing service charters with the public.

These charters demonstrate service providers' commitment to delivering quality services. 

He urged the PROs to develop a sense of urgency, accuracy, and timeliness in communicating government achievements, noting that effective communication with patients is integral to their care.

Earlier, Besa Kyanamina, the Communications Lead for the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), reminded the PROs about the draft Safe Motherhood Policy. This policy reflects President Hichilema’s vision to reduce maternal deaths from 278 to less than 100 per 100,000 live births and to establish maternity annexes and Mothers' Shelters closer to communities. The aim is to achieve middle-income status for the country by 2030.

Ms. Kyanamina highlighted the government’s urgency in implementing Presidential Health Initiatives, such as building Mothers' Shelters at all healthcare facilities, ensuring adequate stocks of essential medicines, and maintaining sufficient blood availability.

"This year, about 4,000 Safe Motherhood workers will be employed under the Ministry of Health, and Action Groups will be formed to ensure mothers and babies do not die during birth," Ms. Kyanamina said.

She also encouraged the officers to propose ideas for utilizing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support these Presidential priorities in their respective institutions, noting that the use of CDF remains relatively low.

Ms. Kyanamina urged the officers to create communication and work plans in all health facilities to contribute to mainstream media and consistently disseminate stories about Presidential priorities.

The three-day workshop brought together participants from all provinces to share best practices in the communications sector.