LocationsFor Immediate Release
Zambia Takes Major Step Toward Connected Healthcare With National ToT Workshop
December 2, 2025
Marking a significant step toward a digitally enabled health system and Universal Health Coverage, the SZI and MoH partnered with the UNDP to host a week-long Smart Health Systems Connectivity ToT Workshop that equips provincial teams with the skills necessary to deploy and manage high-speed internet, digital supply chain solutions, and climate-smart infrastructure in rural and peri-urban health facilities nationwide.
Photo by: Vanessa Wematu Akibate/UNDP Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia, 2nd December 2025 – The Smart Zambia Institute (SZI) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Global Fund, officially opened the Smart Health Systems (SHS) Connectivity National Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop, marking an important step in Zambia’s journey toward a digitally enabled health system.
The week-long workshop brings together provincial ICT officers, biomedical engineers, ZAMMSA personnel, and MoH technical teams from across the country for intensive capacity-building on digital connectivity systems being deployed under the Smart Health Systems project. These include high-speed internet solutions, IoT monitoring devices, digital health applications, and solar-powered infrastructure designed to strengthen service delivery in rural and peri-urban health facilities.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the National Coordinator of the Smart Zambia Institute, Mr. Percy Chinyama, emphasised the importance of equipping national teams to manage the digital transformation currently underway in the health sector, noting that “For too long, inadequate connectivity and unreliable power have limited the full use of digital health platforms. Today, we are taking decisive steps to close that gap for communities that have waited far too long.”
The Ministry of Health also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening digital health systems as part of its broader efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage. In remarks delivered on behalf of the Ministry's ICT Director, Beenzu Muleya, ICT Officer, stressed that "Digitalisation is a core component of healthcare delivery, from patient records and telemedicine to supply-chain visibility and emergency response." She added, "The Ministry values this capacity-building effort because technology alone is not enough, we need skilled people who can manage it. By training provincial and district-level staff, we lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and smooth rollout across all targeted facilities."
UNDP highlighted that building local capacity is essential to ensuring long-term sustainability of the investments being made through the Smart Health Systems project, which integrates solar energy, reliable internet, and digital tools to support real-time reporting, temperature monitoring, supply chain visibility, telemedicine, and e-learning. In remarks delivered on behalf of Dr. James Wakiaga, the Resident Representative, the Senior Programme Advisor, Dr. Saleban Omar encouraged the trainers to embrace this responsibility with pride, as the custodians of Zambia's digital transformation, saying "Your work will reach communities you may never see but where your impact will be felt deeply."
The workshop will train participants on the installation, operation, and troubleshooting of key SHS components, including Starlink-based internet systems, IoT sensors for temperature, security, waste, water, and air quality, and digital supply chain solutions such as electronic visibility and track-and-trace systems.
By the end of the week, trainers will be equipped to support provincial rollouts and provide ongoing technical assistance to health facilities, ensuring consistent performance, improved data quality, and stronger health outcomes for communities.
The Smart Health Systems project builds on the Solar for Health initiative, which has already powered over 400 health facilities across Zambia. This new phase expands the programme by integrating digital connectivity and climate-smart infrastructure to enhance resilience, inclusivity, and service quality in health facilities nationwide.
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For more information and media interviews, contact:
Ranya Sherif, Chief Technical Advisor (Smart Health Systems Project), Ranya.sherif@undp.org
Delight Haangala, Communications Specialist, delight.haangala@szi.gov.zm
Mercy Khozi, Communications Analyst, mercy.khozi@undp.org
ABOUT SMART ZAMBIA INSTITUTE
Our mandate is to coordinate and implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and develop systems for the provision of electronic services to facilitate Government to Government (G2G), Government to Business (G2B), and Government to Citizens (G2C) services in a secure and robust environment as provided in the Government Act No. 41 of 2021.
ABOUT UNDP
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in some 177 countries and territories, we offer a global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
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