CHAI began partnering with the Zambian government in 2007 to improve care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. We helped the Ministry of Health identify and address critical gaps in the health system and supported the introduction of the first national pediatric clinical mentoring guidelines. CHAI helped facilitate the procurement of antiretroviral (ARV) medications to increase the number of HIV positive children receiving this lifesaving treatment.

Today, we are continuing to support the ministry to introduce newer and higher-quality HIV medications and diagnostic tools such as viral load testing. We are helping the government strengthen the health workforce through trainings and, mentorships on the latest clinical guidance and have implemented our integrated approach to maternal and neonatal health in 144 facilities in 12 districts to save the lives of women and babies in the critical window around childbirth. Simultaneously, we are supporting access to critical family planning tools for women and girls. We are also working closely with the government to bring healthcare as close to rural families as possible and have supported the introduction and scale up of community-based health workers known as community health assistants (CHA). CHAI is helping the government to strengthen financial and performance management systems and increase the use of evidence-based decision making to reach its goal of universal health coverage.