Country Overview

To date, SCMS has procured and delivered more than $10.3M of ARVs for Zambia—more than any other country that SCMS supports.

Making antitretroviral therapy (ART) available to all those in need is one of the highest priorities for Zambia’s government. About one million Zambians are living with HIV/AIDS, and 200,000 of these persons require ART. Gaps in supply of drugs in the public sector, along with the lack of an adequate logistic and supply chain system, are among the major obstacles that have historically hindered the availability of antiretrovirals (ARVs) in Zambia.

SCMS is working with the government of Zambia to reduce stockouts of SCMS supports the Zambian government’s effort to provide quality treatment to those with HIV and AIDS through technical assistance and training in laboratory logistics, and procurement of ARVs, HIV tests, laboratory commodities, and OI drugs. We support prevention efforts by the above-mentioned activities as well as providing supply chain technical assistance for national male circumcision efforts. We also work with the Ministry of Health and several other partners in developing an HIV/AIDS commodity security (HACS) plan for Zambia. The HACS framework brings together all programs, functions, and cross-cutting issues in implementing a strategic response for securing HIV and AIDS commodities. Endorsed by senior Ministry of Health officials, we hope to formally launch the strategic plan in late 2009.

Key Objectives

• Procure and deliver quality products for the country in keeping with national protocol.
• Develop and implement a national laboratory logistics system.
• Facilitate the development of a national strategic plan for HIV/AIDS commodity security.
• Support national male circumcision efforts through quantification and development of a supply chain for the identified needed commodities.

Activities and Impact

Value of commodities delivered as of December 2008: $58 million

Procurement and delivery: To date, SCMS has procured and delivered over $42.9 million worth of ARVs, over $2 million worth of co-trimoxizole and OI drugs, over $11 million worth of lab supplies and equipment, and over $5 million of test kits for Zambia. We have brought in 85 percent of the current national requirement for lab supplies for HIV/AIDS diagnosis and over 90 percent of the national requirement for HIV test kits.

Forecasting and quantification: SCMS has completed an unprecedented seven-year forecast for laboratory commodities in Zambia. As planned procurements for these commodities are successfully fulfilled on schedule, the country has experienced fewer service delivery point stockouts.

National laboratory logistics system: SCMS is working with the Ministry of Health and US government partners in Zambia in strengthening the country’s laboratory logistics system. To help ensure the system’s viability, we conducted a design workshop, bringing in key stakeholders and health workers who manage the commodities to participate in system creation. The group process included selecting 185 key laboratory commodities that support ART. We also completed training in the pilot for the new system, which will span three provinces and include more than one-third of the country’s 180 lab sites. When the system is fully implemented, Zambia will set the precedent for other African countries in its ability to provide accurate forecasting and long-term planning for essential laboratory commodities.

SCMS is also providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in implementing a new logistics management information system (LMIS) and inventory control system. The LMIS records and reports consumption and stock data for every facility in the country—enabling timely and accurate quantification, procurement, storage and distribution of life-saving AIDS medications and supplies.