In a significant move to strengthen Zambia’s healthcare supply chain and combat Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality, a high-level delegation from the Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Haemorrhage Impact (AMPLI-PPHI) project conducted a strategic visit to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).

The delegation, comprising primary funders UNITAID and the European Union (EU), was received by the office of ZAMMSA Director General and senior management team. The primary aim of the visit was to gain firsthand appreciation of ZAMMSA’s critical operations, from procurement and warehousing to nationwide distribution of essential medicines and commodities.

The AMPLI-PPHI project placed premium to scaling up access to and use of effective, high-quality uterotonics – medicines that prevent and manage excessive bleeding after childbirth. The visit underscored the project’s commitment to ensuring these life-saving commodities reliably reach every health facility across the country.

During the engagement, the delegation held a meeting with ZAMMSA management before touring the warehouse, observing the systems and dedicated personnel that form the backbone of the national medical logistics network. Discussions bordered around understanding the processes that ensure uninterrupted flow of quality-assured maternal health commodities. The two parties explored how the AMPLI-PPHI project could further support and integrate with ZAMMSA’s mandate to eliminate stock-outs of essential medicines, while in same spirit, aligning efforts to build a resilient system that continues to protect mothers beyond the project’s lifespan.

ZAMMSA reiterated the agency’s commitment to partnering with global health actors.

“The fight against postpartum haemorrhage is a fight we are determined to win. Reliable systems are the first line of defense. We welcome this collaborative engagement with UNITAID and the EU, as it amplifies our shared mission to safeguard maternal health through a robust, sustainable supply chain,” ZAMMSA Director General stressed.

Representatives from UNITAID and the European Union expressed their deep appreciation for ZAMMSA’s pivotal role. They expressed happiness at the dedication and complexity of agency’s operations, reinforcing their confidence that investments in the AMPLI-PPHI project were in capable hands. UNITAID and EU emphasised the importance of this partnership in translating global health innovations into tangible, life-saving results at the community level.

The visit to ZAMMSA marked a pivotal moment of alignment and mutual understanding. It strengthened the foundation for continued collaboration, ensuring that every investment and innovation under the AMPLI-PPHI project was effectively channelled through Zambia’s health system to achieve lasting impact.