On 7th November 2025, the Zambia Countdown 2030 collaboration team hosted a dissemination meeting to share insights on performance and progress of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) indicators for the period 2019-2024.
The dissemination meeting included key stakeholders from the provincial health offices and various organizations, including the Global Financing Facility (GFF), Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), UNICEF, and ChildFund.
Officiating the event, Dr. Matildah Kakungu Simpugwe, Country Public Health Director, underscored the value of this partnership, stating: “The power of this partnership lies in how we are using data to make smart decisions. Every number tells a story, and every story helps us understand what is working and what needs more attention. We are not just collecting information; we are using it to shape policies that make healthcare better for everyone.”
Key Highlights from the Discussions
- Routinely collected data provide a rich source that can inform policy and improve the health outcomes of women, children, and the population at large.
- The use of novel statistical methods can enhance the reliability of routinely collected data and generate meaningful insights into the performance of RMNCAH indicators.
- Overall improvements were noted across several RMNCAH indicators, including immunization and institutional deliveries. However, provincial differentials in some key indicators suggest the need to close inequality gaps at the sub-national level.
- Respectful care and the quality of the care are among the key drivers of existing inequalities.
- There is a need for health system strengthening to improve performance on key indicators, noting that systemic barriers, such as the limited number of skilled personnel available in some districts to manage maternal emergencies, continue to hinder progress.
This meeting reaffirmed the importance of data-driven decision-making and collaborative action as Zambia continues working toward improved RMNCAH outcomes.