The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with the Zambian government to hand over 10 pre-fabricated medical-supply storage units for 11 districts at a cost of nearly US $900,000.

In a statement issued via US Embassy public affairs officer Sean McIntosh from Chongwe, the prefabricated storage units are meant to give access to health commodities in all of Zambia’s 10 provinces.

According to McIntosh, the storage units have been available by the USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain Programme-Procurement and Supply Management project (GHSC-PSM), funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), at a cost of US $881,792.

Speaking during the hand-over, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote explained that health supply chains were critically important for promoting public health.

“Effective health supply chains are critically important for promoting public health ensuring essential medicine are available to patients when they need them, where they need them,” Ambassador Foote said.

“Indeed, there exists a direct link between health supply chains and improved HIV testing, prevention, and treatment.”

Assembled on site, the storage units were backed up with solar power systems, lighting, air conditioning, shelving, office furniture, security lighting and secured doors and windows.

Apart from Chongwe, the 10 pre-fabricated medical-supply storage units will be distributed in the districts of Kapiri Mposhi, Mazabuka, Mumbwa, Kitwe, Ndola, Limulunga, Mongu, Livingstone and Mbala.

The Ministry of Health, together with USAID’s GHSC-PSM, is tackling the significant challenge of improving access to quality health services throughout the country.

The prefabricated storage units were strategically placed in select districts not only to reach underserved populations, but also to facilitate the distribution of health commodities to all of Zambia’s 10 provinces.