Zambart

09/12/2025

Zambart Senior Management Visits Zambart Facilities at Kanyama Level 1 After XACT 3 & 19 Dissemination

Some members of Zambart’s senior management conducted a tour of the Zambart facilities at Kanyama Level 1 General Hospital shortly after the XACT 3 and XACT 19 dissemination meeting. The visit provided an opportunity to appreciate the ongoing work being carried out at the site and engaged with staff.

Stay glued to our pages to find out what the results were for XACT 19 and XACT 3.

08/12/2025

Event Announcement!!
Excerpts from Copenhagen: The UNION World Conference on Lung Health 2025 hosted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine TB Centre
https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/events/excerpts-copenhagen-union-world-conference-lung-health-2025

Room
G08, Hybrid
Date
Tuesday 9 December 2025
Time
14:45 - 16:00 CAT

This is a hybrid event, featuring a selection of summary presentations from this year’s UNION conference. The event is open to all and no registration is required.

Each year, many LSHTM TB researchers participate in the UNION World Conference on Lung Health, the world's largest conference on TB and lung health. This year, the conference takes place in

05/12/2025

Zambart, in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia, holds Trainers of Trainers Workshop in the fight against stigma and discrimination

The Expanded Total Facility Approach (TFA) Study recently facilitated a Training of Trainers workshop for clinical tutors as part of the Pre-Service activities, held in close collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ).

The TFA Study focuses on reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in health facilities—barriers that continue to limit access to quality prevention, treatment, and care services globally. The Total Facility Approach (TFA), successfully implemented in Ghana and Tanzania, is now being rolled out in Zambia for the first time.

The training aimed at:
1. Familiarize tutors with stigma-reduction exercises ahead of the revised 2026 curriculum.
2. Strengthen participatory methodologies for more effective learning.
3. Support reflection on personal beliefs, values, and attitudes that shape understanding of stigma and discrimination.

Gracing the event was the NMCZ Director of Education and Training, Mrs. Judith Chipili, who commended Zambart for its unwavering commitment to fighting stigma in health facilities.

The week-long event, held in Livingstone, brought together clinical tutors for meaningful discussions, shared learning, and renewed commitment to creating stigma-free health systems.
Together, we’re building a future where every client receives care free from stigma and discrimination.

03/12/2025

03/12/2025

Zambart Joins National Commemoration of World AIDS Day 2025

On 1st December 2025, Zambart joined the nation in commemorating World AIDS Day 2025, a significant moment to reflect on progress made in the HIV response and to renew commitment toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.

This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption: Transforming the AIDS Response,” speaks to the urgent need for resilience, innovation, and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges.

The commemoration took place at Chawama’s Kuku Grounds, and was graced by the Minister of Health, Hon. Elijah Muchima.
The event brought together communities, civil society organizations, researchers, and stakeholders who gathered to honour lives impacted by HIV and to reaffirm their mission to accelerate Zambia’s HIV response.

On this World AIDS Day, Zambart stands in solidarity with all individuals, families, and communities affected by HIV, and reaffirms its dedication to supporting a healthier, more resilient Zambia.

26/11/2025

Minister of Technology and Science Visits Zambart Stand at the 2025 Zambia Science Conference.

Zambart today proudly participated in the opening day of the Annual Zambia Science Conference, held as part of the 2025 National Science Week at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC). The national event, organised by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in partnership with the University of Zambia (UNZA) and other key stakeholders, is being held under the theme: “Harnessing STI for a Resilient Zambia: Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Growth and Inclusive Development.”

Zambart’s exhibition stand received a special highlight during the conference when the Minister of Technology and Science, Honourable Felix C. Mutati, MP, visited the stand. The Minister engaged with the Zambart team, acknowledging the institution’s longstanding role in advancing infectious disease research, operational studies, and community-centred innovation.

The Zambart team presented ongoing work in HIV, TB, STI and emerging public health research areas, including new studies aligned with national priorities on digital innovation and community-engaged science.

By participating in this year’s conference, Zambart reaffirms its mission to advance locally relevant scientific solutions that address Zambia’s most pressing public health challenges. The institution continues to work closely with government, communities, academic institutions, and global partners to improve health outcomes and contribute to the national development agenda.

25/11/2025

Integration of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and dual HIV/syphilis testing into antenatal and postnatal care in Lusaka, Zambia

Vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of HIV and syphilis continues to contribute to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in Zambia. The country faces a high HIV burden, with an estimated prevalence of 8.7% among adults aged 15–49 years in 2023. Adolescent girls and young women (15–24 years) accounted for nearly two-thirds of new infections, and the vertical HIV transmission rate—including breastfeeding—was 6.6% in 2023. The 2015–2018 Population-based HIV Impact Assessment reported a 3% active syphilis prevalence in those aged ≥15 years

Although Zambia has integrated PrEP services and dual HIV/syphilis testing into routine ANC and PNC, limited evidence exists on how these services function in real-world healthcare settings. To address this gap, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde | Institute of Tropical Medicine and Zambart conducted a formative qualitative study in two healthcare facilities in Lusaka to explore how PrEP and dual HIV/syphilis testing are being integrated into ANC/PNC. Participants included Ministry of Health Zambia representatives, ANC/PNC healthcare providers, and pregnant and postpartum women aged 18 years and older.

The study team recently held a local stakeholder meeting to share the findings from this formative research. Results showed that participants valued the integration of PrEP and dual HIV/syphilis testing into ANC/PNC, noting improvements in service efficiency, accessibility, privacy, and clients’ health status awareness. Strengthening integration will require continued investment in robust health systems, supportive policies, and engagement with communities and male partners.

Zambart and ITM look forward to embark on the second phase of the project, funded by the Research foundation Flanders (FWO).

HIV/syphilis testing

22/11/2025

GLOBE-HPV Study Shares Preliminary Findings with Local Stakeholders in Zambia

Zambia has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in the world. Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in the country. High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) 16/18 are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases.

Zambart is implementing the Global Burden Estimation of Human Papillomavirus (GLOBE-HPV) Study as part of a multi-country study involving 5 countries in South Sahara Africa and 3 in South Asia. In Zambia, the study aims to estimate the prevalence of HPV 16 and/or 18 infection among girls and women aged 9–50 years in both rural and urban settings, and the incidence of persistent HPV 16 and/or 18 infection among women living with HIV aged 15 to 35 years over a two-year period. The GLOBE-HPV Study is a five-year project (2023–2027) being conducted in Chongwe and Lusaka Districts. Its goal is to inform national strategies for cervical cancer prevention and control by improving understanding of the HPV burden in Zambia.

Recently, the GLOBE-HPV study team hosted a local stakeholder dissemination meeting to share preliminary findings. The early results revealed several important insights including: Low knowledge and uptake of the HPV vaccine persist, particularly in urban sites, women living with HIV are twice as likely to have high-risk HPV 16/18 compared to those not living with HIV, older women (above 20 years) are more likely to have high-risk HPV 16/18 infections than younger women (below 20 years) and finally community engagement has proven essential in bridging research efforts with real-life public health needs.

Stakeholders provided valuable feedback, including the need to expand and focus cervical cancer screening efforts for all women and to consider transitioning from the quadrivalent (4-valent) to the nonavalent (9-valent) HPV vaccine to broaden protection against additional HPV strains.

Gates Foundation Ministry of Health ZambiaLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine International Vaccine Institute Karolinska Institutet