09/04/2026
ZAMBIA STRENGTHENS SURGICAL CARE THROUGH ACS H.O.P.E. STRATEGIC WORK PLANNING MEETING
Lusaka, 9th April 2026 – The University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) Adult Hospital, in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) H.O.P.E. Programme and the University of Zambia (UNZA), has commenced a two-day Strategic Work Planning Meeting aimed at strengthening surgical care systems in Zambia.
The meeting, being held at the Institute of Digital Health in Lusaka, has brought together key stakeholders from Government, academia, and the medical field to review progress, identify priorities, and develop a strategic roadmap to enhance surgical service delivery across the country.
Officiating as Guest of Honour, Permanent Secretary, Technical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to advancing surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia services in line with national health priorities.
“This partnership is not a short-term intervention, but a deliberate effort to build sustainable capacity, strengthen systems, and ensure access to safe, quality, and equitable surgical care,” said Dr. Lishimpi.
The ACS H.O.P.E. programme, a global initiative of the American College of Surgeons, focuses on strengthening surgical systems through training, education, research, and quality improvement. Since the collaboration was formalized in March 2024, significant progress has been recorded across four key pillars: clinical care, education, research, and quality improvement.
Participants at the meeting are engaging in structured discussions in these thematic areas, with the goal of developing actionable plans, defining responsibilities, and aligning interventions with Zambia’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan.
Notable achievements under the collaboration include the expansion of specialized surgical services such as trauma care, pediatric surgery, and laparoscopic procedures, as well as improvements in training, research capacity, and data-driven quality improvement systems.
A major milestone has been the growth of kidney transplant services in Zambia. Since the inception of the partnership:
One kidney transplant was conducted in 2024, Sixteen transplants were successfully performed in 2025, Two have already been completed in 2026.
These achievements reflect Zambia’s increasing capacity to provide complex medical care locally and improve patient outcomes.
Speaking earlier, Senior Medical Superintendent at UTH Adult Hospital, Dr. Charles Mbewe, emphasized the importance of the meeting in shaping the next phase of the collaboration.
“This meeting provides a critical platform to reflect on our progress and develop practical, measurable strategies that will guide our work over the next one to three years,” he said.
Dr. Mbewe reaffirmed UTH’s commitment to supporting the implementation of agreed initiatives and continuing to serve as a centre of excellence in healthcare delivery, training, and research.
The meeting has attracted participation from Government ministries, healthcare professionals, cooperating partners, and academic institutions, underscoring the importance of partnerships in building a resilient and responsive health system.
By :
UTH Adult Hospital Public Relations Unit
