Defence Force Boosts Capacity To Fight Disease

By Gift Inambao

Defence Permanent Secretary MAAMBO HAAMAUNDU says the country has started training military health personnel in epidemiology to strengthen their capacity to detect and respond to public health threats.

Mr. HAAMAUNDU said this during the graduation of the 42nd cohort of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme – Front-line for the Defence Force.

He said the training has equipped personnel with skills to detect disease outbreaks early, investigate cases and support timely responses to public health emergencies.

And Zambia National Public Health Institute –ZNPHI- Director General ROMA CHILENGI said strengthening field epidemiology is critical to preventing disease outbreaks from escalating into national emergencies.

Professor CHILENGI said Zambia’s improved capacity for early detection and rapid response has helped contain outbreaks such as cholera without bringing the country to a standstill.

Meanwhile, Director General of Defence Force Medical Services Brigadier General PERRY SIACHOOMBE said the training has equipped front-line health personnel with the knowledge and skills to detect emerging outbreaks early and strengthen disease prevention within the Defence Force and the wider community.