.Dr Kaseba

FROM CHISHIMBA CHISHIMBA, New York, USA –

FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba has said partnerships and exchange of ideas in the health sectors are essential in tackling health conditions affecting people, particularly children and women.
The First Lady said she would continue to engage various organisations in her work in the health sector because operating in isolation did not yield desired results.
Dr Kaseba was speaking when she met officials from Alere TM at Ford Foundation soon after a workshop by African First Ladies Advocating Health.
Alere TM is an organisation, which integrates diagnostic tools with education and health management solutions and connects patients to information.
Dr Kaseba said First Ladies had moved a step further in advocacy and other matters by getting actively involved in projects rather than being ‘mouth-pieces.’
“In Zambia, we are involved in mobile health provision because static health institutions are not able to provide for all the people, especially those in the outlaying areas. When we are conducting mobile health services, there are so many people who come to seek medical treatment,” she said.
Zambia, she said, is keen to partner with many other organisations in the provision of quality health services.
She said medical practitioners in Zambia had embraced modern technology in undertaking health operations.
Alere TM officials included interim chief executive officer Namal Nawana and global president – infectious diseases Avi Pelossof.
Mr Nawana said his organisation was keen to offer more services in Zambia but that there should be justification that the impact would be cost-effective.
“It is not mere giving or helping, but when we offer services, we are interested to know the impact of the technology on the community. We are interested to establish how cost effective our services are,” he said.
He said his organisation spent tens of thousands of dollars per year to save lives through provision of cost-effective services and technology.