UPND TARGETS 40,000 MORE HEALTH WORKERS IN SECOND TERM

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Posted by admin on June 3, 2026 at 2:57 AM

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The United Party for National Development (UPND) has announced plans to recruit more than 40,000 additional health workers during its second term in office, should it remain in power, building on what it describes as significant gains in Zambia’s healthcare sector during its first term.

According to a statement by  Public Relations Coordinator of the UPND Health Committee Jerome Nkonjela, government has already recruited 23,560 health workers over the past five years. The party said this achievement reflects President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system and addressing chronic staffing shortages.

The recruitment drive has boosted manpower in hospitals, clinics, and rural health facilities, easing pressure on existing staff and expanding access to quality care. Beyond hiring, the UPND highlighted progress in infrastructure development, ambulance system upgrades, procurement of modern medical equipment, and improvements to the medical supply chain, describing these as “practical and measurable results.”

Looking ahead, the party expressed optimism that more than 40,000 additional health workers would be recruited in a second term, acknowledging Zambia still faces a significant backlog of qualified professionals — including medical doctors, nurses, midwives, medical licentiates, clinical officers, and other essential health workers.

The committee commended President Hichilema for prioritising citizen welfare through sustained health sector investments and expressed confidence that continued recruitment would accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage.