By Amos Sikaonga 
By Amos Sikaonga
Minister of Health, has called for investment in the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) to extend health insurance coverage to the poor and vulnerable.
Dr. Elijah Muchima said the Government will take care of the poor who cannot manage to pay for NHIMA, so that they can also receive proper insurance schemes.
“We need to invest in NHIMA to broden our health schemes. Reduce on wastage. We should not take it lightly.”
“NHIMA should extend health insurance coverage to the poor and vulnerable,” Dr. Muchima stated.
Dr. Muchima noted that Ministry of Finance and National Planning has been supportive to the sector amid withdrawal of aid from key stakeholders.
He stated that the Ministry of Finance has acted tremendously by supporting the health sector amid the withdrawal of financial aid.
Dr. Muchima was in Washington D.C for the 2025 Spring Meetings where he also participated in a high-level dialogue on sustainable health financing in Africa, convened by the AfroChampions Initiative.
Addressing the Zambian delegation at the residence of Zambia’s Ambassador to the USA Dr. Chibamba Kanyama, he said his engagements were a success as they discussed ways of sustaining healthcare in Africa following the withdrawal of aid in the health sector.
“How do we sustain ourselves following the withdrawal of funding? These are the key issues that we critically looked at. We first start domestically, regional and the continent,” he added.
He emphasized the need to use local funds prudently, in view of the limited aid.
Dr. Muchima also noted that the fiscal constraints the country faces calls for sustainable solutions to bridge finding gaps for health commodities.
And Ambassador Kanyama stated that the Mission will continue to engage stakeholders in the health sector despite the withdrawal of funding in the health sector.
The forum brought together key stakeholders to identify actionable strategies and forge partnerships critical to strengthening health systems across Africa.
This is according to a statement issued by
First Secretary Press and Public Relations, at the Zambian Embassy,
Washington DC, Charles Tembo.
Cecilia Chiluba 
Nelson Zulu