China-Zambia program unlocks better diagnoses

China and Zambia launched a training program on noncommunicable diseases on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen Zambia's capacity to prevent, diagnose and treat chronic illnesses.

Under the program, Chinese experts will spend the next two weeks exchanging expertise with Zambian radiologists, as part of six months of training that includes online instruction and in-person interactive sessions.

The program is being led by West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Sichuan province, in partnership with major Zambian hospitals, including Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital in the capital, Lusaka.

Speaking at the launch ceremony in Lusaka, Daphne Shamambo, director of nursing and midwifery services at Zambia's Health Ministry, said the program would help strengthen Zambia's healthcare workforce.

"It reflects our shared commitment to strengthening healthcare systems, advancing medical innovation and investing in the development of highly skilled healthcare professionals," Shamambo said.

"Through training, mentorship, knowledge exchange and professional collaboration, this initiative will contribute to the development of highly skilled imaging professionals capable of meeting the growing healthcare needs of our population," she said.

The training will equip Zambian healthcare professionals with the skills to accurately diagnose and effectively treat noncommunicable diseases, she said. Timely and reliable diagnostic information for cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and other complex conditions will improve patient outcomes, she added.

"We therefore view this initiative not simply as a training program, but as an investment in the future of healthcare delivery in Zambia," Shamambo said.

"The knowledge and skills healthcare professionals acquire will not only advance their professional growth but also directly benefit the many patients and communities that depend on our healthcare system," she said.

Chipulu Malunga, chief radiographer at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, said a previous survey found that much of the medical equipment purchased by the Zambian government had been underutilized because of a shortage of skilled personnel. The training program, he said, will help bridge that gap.

"This program will train us to use applications that were underutilized to improve accuracy in diagnosis and the quality of care," Malunga said. "Better services will ultimately benefit patients through more accurate diagnosis and treatment."

The participants, selected from across the country, are expected to share the knowledge and skills they gain with colleagues after completing the training, he added.

Muwindwa Mubiza Mwiinga, head of the Mental Development Index at the hospital, is among the first group of 25 Zambian healthcare professionals selected for the training.

She said she is eager to enhance her expertise to improve patient outcomes, particularly in cardiac imaging and neuroimaging, two areas where many radiographers have limited experience.

She said patients will be the primary beneficiaries, as better-trained radiographers will enable physicians to diagnose noncommunicable diseases more quickly and accurately, thereby improving treatment and health outcomes.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.