NEWS • ONE HEALTH • ZNPHI
Five thematic areas, one coordinated approach across human, animal and environmental health. Three of them sit within the veterinary profession's mandate.
Lusaka, 15 November 2026 · Veterinary Association of Zambia
The Veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) attended the official launch of the National One Health Strategic Plan 2027-2031 on Thursday, 13 November 2026, at Legacy Resort in Lusaka. The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) organised the launch, and the Guest of Honour was Hon. Olive Chiboola, MP, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock. The VAZ President, Dr. Eugene Chisela Bwalya, represented the Association.
Five thematic areas
- Climate and Health
- Chemicals, Radiation and Environmental Safety
- ZoonosesVeterinary mandate
- Food SafetyVeterinary mandate
- Antimicrobial ResistanceVeterinary mandate
Shared systems support every thematic area, implementation responsibilities have been assigned, and a results framework supports accountability.
Highlights from the launch
- ZNPHI opening remarksDr. Nyambe Sinyange, Acting Director General of ZNPHI, spoke on behalf of the ZNPHI Board Chairperson. One Health is the way forward for public safety and health, because public health threats need a converged approach across human, animal and environmental health. The Board will oversee implementation of the Plan.
- Presentation of the PlanDr. Raymond Hamoonga, National One Health Coordinator, presented the Plan. It builds on the National One Health Strategic Plan 2022-2026. Stakeholders agreed on its priorities and measurable results, and a stakeholder meeting from 27 to 31 July 2026 identified the thematic areas and priorities.
- Cooperating partnersSTRIDES, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) gave remarks.
- Ministry of Fisheries and LivestockDr. Max Choombe, Permanent Secretary, called the launch an important day that brought institutions and cooperating partners together, and cited the recent anthrax outbreaks, during which ZNPHI, the Ministry and other stakeholders worked together. The Ministry wants to work with all ministries to implement the Plan.
- Ministry of Green Economy and EnvironmentThe Permanent Secretary made three commitments: to translate the Plan's strategic activities into action, to sustain effective representation in the national One Health structures, and to back that representation with clear channels of communication and authority, with mandatory information sharing. These commitments must reach provincial and district levels.
- Keynote and official launchThe Guest of Honour thanked ZNPHI and all the partners who contributed to the Plan, describing it as a collective responsibility that shows Zambia's determination to strengthen national health security. She noted that the One Health agenda is of particular importance to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and then officially launched the Plan.
The Plan at a glance
| Vision | A nation with a sustainably balanced and optimised health of people, animals and ecosystems. |
| Mission | To coordinate and sustain multisectoral action that prevents, detects and responds to health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. |
| Goal | A functional, accountable and climate-resilient One Health system that protects health, livelihoods and ecosystems from priority threats. |
| Coordination | Five thematic subcommittees, to be set up in 2027 under the National One Health Technical Working Group, with the ZNPHI One Health Unit as Secretariat. National, provincial and district One Health structures link national priorities with local action. |
| Accountability | A results framework with indicators, baselines, targets, data sources and responsible institutions, reviewed periodically until 2031. |
Why it matters to veterinarians
The Plan states that continued engagement of professional associations, civil society, the private sector and communities will be important to advance its priorities. Zoonoses, Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance sit within the mandate of the veterinary profession, and they match the VAZ Strategic Plan 2026-2030, especially the Zero Rabies Zambia programme, antimicrobial stewardship, and animal welfare and public health.
Recommended next steps for VAZ:
- Seek representation on the Zoonoses, Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance subcommittees once they are set up in 2027.
- Align VAZ programmes, including Zero Rabies Zambia and antimicrobial stewardship, with the Plan's indicators, and report VAZ contributions through the ZNPHI One Health Unit.
- Add a One Health session to the 2027 CPD calendar.
Members working at provincial and district levels are encouraged to read the Plan and take part in their local One Health structures.
Read the National One Health Strategic Plan 2027-2031
Open the Plan (PDF) →Full document, 10.9 MBVeterinary Association of Zambia · secretary@vaz.org.zm
