HEALTH SERVICES

To provide preventive and curative health services through clinical care, general nursing, provision of medical equipment, and pharmaceutical services. The department also implements public health programmes to prevent, control, and eliminate diseases in order to promote health and prolong life.

Core Responsibilities

The Department shall:

  • Provide clinical care services
  • Deliver nursing care and pharmaceutical services
  • Control communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
  • Provide counselling and testing services
  • Implement malaria control and elimination strategies
  • Provide child health and vaccination services
  • Ensure availability and maintenance of medical equipment in health facilities
  • Deliver environmental and maternal health services
  • Offer family planning counselling and commodities
  • Provide nutrition services
  • Conduct health education and disease surveillance programmes
  • Manage ambulance and referral services

Organizational Structure

The Department is headed by a Director – Health Services, assisted by:

  • Assistant Director – Health Services
  • Assistant Director – Public Health Services

It is composed of two (2) main sections:

  1. Health Services Section

Coordinate the provision of preventive and curative health services, oversee general nursing, clinical care, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and supervise various health facilities.

Units under Health Services Section:

  1. a) Clinical Care and Diagnostic Services Unit
  • Oversees clinical, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and outreach services
  • Provides curative inpatient/outpatient care
  • Manages maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent, and nutrition services
  • Supervises surgical, rehabilitative, mortuary, and biomedical services
  • Ensures quality assurance and research in clinical care
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b) Nursing and Midwifery Services Unit

  • Coordinates nursing and midwifery care delivery
  • Implements nursing policies, standards, and protocols
  • Provides technical support and training to nursing staff
  • Collaborates with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ)
  • Conducts research and quality assessments in nursing practice

Health Facilities under this Section:

  1. District Hospitals

Provide comprehensive clinical, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, surgical, and maternal care services.

  1. Mini Hospitals

Offer primary and some secondary care services, including minor surgery, maternal and child health, and basic diagnostics.

iii. Zonal Health Centres

Serve as referral centres for Health Posts and provide outpatient services, health education, and public health interventions.

  1. Urban Health Centres

Deliver outpatient, maternal, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical services in town areas.

  1. Rural Health Centres

Provide essential health services, mainly preventive and basic curative care in remote locations.

  1. Public Health Services Section

Implement disease prevention and control programmes, health education, solid waste management, and surveillance systems to improve population health and prolong life.

Units under Public Health Services Section:

  1. a) Public Health Unit
  • Implements public health programmes
  • Conducts disease surveillance and community health research
  • Provides health education and technical support
  1. b) Environmental Health Unit
  • Manages sanitation, healthcare waste, food and drug safety
  • Coordinates disease outbreak preparedness and response
  • Implements hygiene and sanitation programmes
  1. c) Health Inspectorate Unit
  • Conducts public health inspections
  • Ensures food safety, occupational health, and compliance with public health laws
  1. d) Health Promotions Unit
  • Implements health education and behavioural change campaigns
  • Collaborates with media and stakeholders
  • Conducts school and community health outreach
  1. e) Cleansing and Pest Control Unit
  • Manages street and public facility cleaning
  • Controls pests and vectors
  • Oversees solid waste collection and disposal
  1. f) Funeral Services Unit
  • Administers cemeteries and funeral services
  • Ensures dignified, sanitary burial of deceased persons
  • Maintains mortuary records and equipment

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