Zambia warns diplomats after US reveals 'systematic' aid theft
Zambia's foreign minister has warned diplomats against interfering in the country's affairs, days after the US ambassador raised concerns about the "systematic theft" of drugs donated to the southern African state.
Mulambo Haimbe said there was an "increasing tendency" by envoys to ignore diplomatic channels, and this could undermine the "spirit of mutual respect".
He did not name anyone, but his comments were seen as being directed at the US ambassador to Lusaka, Michael Gonzales.
Last week, Gonzales called a press conference to announce that the US was cutting $50m (£37m) of health aid to Zambia because of the theft of life-saving medications that the US had provided for patients.
He added that he had decided to go public after holding more than 30 fruitless meetings with senior Zambian officials.
In his response, Haimbe said that addressing the government through the media amounted to interference and was in breach of diplomatic conventions.
"We remain open to addressing any matters of concern through appropriate diplomatic channels," the minister added.
Last week, the US embassy said it had presented its findings of the alleged corruption to Zambian officials in April last year, and had offered help to stop further theft and to bring the culprits to justice.
However, no action was taken by the Zambian authorities, it added.
On Monday, Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu said that a forensic audit on the alleged theft had been completed and handed over to security agencies for further action.
About 75 people have been arrested in a countrywide crackdown that saw more than 400 health facilities raided over the alleged scam, he said.
"There will be no sacred cows in this pursuit," Mwiimbu added.
Gonzales said that an inspection carried out by US officials at more than 2,000 pharmacies last year had found that most were selling drugs and medical supplies donated by the US.
Zambia's Health Minister Elijah Muchima earlier said the problem of theft predated the current government, which took office in 2021.
Muchima also said several Zambian officials had been sacked following the thefts identified by the US, and that "an advanced digital stock tracking system" had been set up to monitor the supply of medicines.
The cut in US assistance, expected to take effect next year, would affect drugs to treat malaria, HIV and TB.
But the health minister has reassured Zambians that there were sufficient stocks of all drugs so there was "no immediate risk of shortages".
Gonzales said the recent US measure was separate to the foreign aid freeze announced by President Donald Trump in January.
The freeze has affected health programmes across Africa, including shipments of critical medical supplies, among them HIV drugs.
In March, Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema said Trump had "slapped us on both cheeks", saying it was time for his country to strengthen its treasury to procure its own medicines.
The US accounts for about a third of public health spending in Zambia, according to the US embassy.
Bitcoin in the bush - the crypto mine in remote Zambia
'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo
'My wife fears sex, I fear death' - impacts of the USAID freeze
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Africa Daily
Focus on Africa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
Nearly 1 in 6 cancer drugs found in Africa are defective, study finds
A new study has found that almost 17% of cancer drugs sampled in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, and Cameroon were substandard or counterfeit, raising concerns over patient safety and gaps in pharmaceutical regulation across Africa. A study published in The Lancet Global Health revealed nearly 17% of cancer medications sampled in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, and Cameroon were substandard or counterfeit. Approximately one in six tested medications had incorrect levels of active ingredients, highlighting risks to patient safety and treatment efficacy. The study attributes issues to factors like poor manufacturing practices and storage conditions, as well as counterfeiting. Published in The Lancet Global Health, the study tested nearly 200 unique cancer drug products collected from hospitals and pharmacies in the four African countries. It found that around one in six contained incorrect levels of active ingredients, putting patients at risk of ineffective treatment and disease progression. Researchers said causes ranged from poor manufacturing and inadequate storage to deliberate counterfeiting. The problem is difficult to detect visually: only about 25% of the defective products could be flagged by inspecting packaging or color, while the majority required laboratory testing to uncover quality failures. 'If you can't test it, you can't regulate it,' said Marya Lieberman of the University of Notre Dame, who led the investigation. 'The cancer medications are difficult to handle and analyze because they're very toxic, and so many labs don't want to do that.' The study points to big challenges for many African countries in making sure cancer drugs are safe. Many places don't have the right labs or trained staff to properly test these medicines. Even where labs do exist, they often can't handle these very strong and dangerous drugs. WHO Addresses Cancer Drug Quality Concerns The World Health Organization (WHO) said it is in contact with authorities in the four affected countries to review the findings and develop a response plan. 'We are concerned with the findings the article has highlighted,' the WHO said in a statement. 'We expect to assess full information to evaluate the situation... But we're committed to address these issues working with the relevant countries and partners.' Defective or falsified medicines are not new challenges in Africa. Previous studies have found similar rates of poor-quality antibiotics, antimalarials, and tuberculosis treatments. The WHO has estimated that roughly 10% of all medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified, leading to treatment failures, adverse reactions, and wasted healthcare spending. Despite the worrying results, researchers noted that most of the cancer drugs tested did meet quality standards, with around two-thirds of suppliers consistently delivering safe products. Experts called for improved manufacturing oversight, stronger regulatory frameworks, and investment in local testing capacity. They also pointed to new screening technologies under development, such as portable 'paper lab' tests designed to help detect poor-quality medicines before they reach patients.
Indianapolis Star
9 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's Ryan White opened hearts to AIDS fight. Don't abandon his legacy now.
Ryan White was a spirited, bright kid who loved basketball, Nintendo and dreaming big. In 1984, 13-year-old Ryan contracted HIV through a contaminated blood transfusion used to treat his hemophilia. With widespread misconceptions about HIV/AIDS dominating the headlines, and fear overruling facts, Ryan was barred from attending his school and driven from his hometown of Kokomo. His harrowing story suddenly thrust Ryan onto the national stage, where he transformed the attention into a powerful force for changing perceptions about those living with HIV/AIDS. He had no idea how far his message would reach. Yet he was determined to use it for the greater good. His courage inspired the creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which continues to help people across America, and around the world, stay safe and well. At the time of his diagnosis, doctors gave Ryan only six months to live. On April 8, 1990, six precious years later, we sat together at Ryan's bedside and held his hands as he lost his young, heroic life to AIDS. First lady Barbara Bush attended his funeral, and businessman Donald Trump came to the family home to pay his respects. When Americans needed to take compassionate action, Ryan opened the door and urged everyone to take heart and to help. Four months later, in his name, Congress nearly unanimously enacted the Ryan White CARE Act – providing essential HIV care and treatment to Americans living with the virus. After years of fearmongering and paralysis, the U.S. government had finally committed to join the fight against our common enemy: AIDS. Ryan would be grateful for the progress being made. Today, more than 500,000 Americans living with HIV get lifesaving treatment through the Ryan White CARE Act. In 2019, President Trump proudly launched the End the HIV Epidemic initiative in his State of the Union address − a focused prevention effort to end the HIV epidemic in America by 2030. This evidence-based strategic initiative has achieved remarkable results, reducing new HIV infections by 21% in targeted communities and connecting people newly diagnosed with HIV to vital care and support services. This push to end AIDS is in full swing across America, but the work is not done yet – with young people, particularly in the South, now most severely impacted. We are grateful that the draft budget before Congress continues critically important funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and the End the HIV Epidemic efforts. That is an affirmation of these programs' effectiveness and bipartisan support. However, the proposal also would end federal funding to states for HIV surveillance, testing and education; for community-based organizations that reach those most at risk; and for substance abuse treatment and mental health programs that are crucial for driving down HIV infections. Attempts to cut Medicaid are also alarming, as more than 40% of people living with HIV have their care and treatment covered by Medicaid. Without this essential insurance, scores of people living with HIV won't get the care and medicines they need to keep them healthy. The president has said don't mess with Medicaid. We agree. Programs that provide treatment, fuel prevention and fight stigma should be expanded, not eliminated, as we work toward eradicating the disease that ended Ryan's life. The game-changing opportunity of the moment is to scale up prevention medication that keeps people HIV-free. The recent American-led development of PrEP − a pill or shot that prevents the virus from taking hold − is just the tool we need to end AIDS, but only if we make it accessible to those who need it. The economics are compelling: 14,000 people can receive generic PrEP ($30 annually) for the lifetime cost of treating one person with HIV ($420,285) − keeping Americans healthy, HIV-free and productive. The moment of truth is here. As the administration and Congress consider their investment priorities for next year, we urge them to continue joining forces in the fight against AIDS in the United States and worldwide. Together, their investments over time have created this once-in-a-generation opportunity to end AIDS in America by 2030, as called for by President Trump. Together they can seize that opportunity by banking on prevention. Ryan would expect nothing less.
Indianapolis Star
9 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's Ryan White opened hearts to AIDS fight. Don't abandon his legacy now.
Ryan White was a spirited, bright kid who loved basketball, Nintendo and dreaming big. In 1984, 13-year-old Ryan contracted HIV through a contaminated blood transfusion used to treat his hemophilia. With widespread misconceptions about HIV/AIDS dominating the headlines, and fear overruling facts, Ryan was barred from attending his school and driven from his hometown of Kokomo. His harrowing story suddenly thrust Ryan onto the national stage, where he transformed the attention into a powerful force for changing perceptions about those living with HIV/AIDS. He had no idea how far his message would reach. Yet he was determined to use it for the greater good. His courage inspired the creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which continues to help people across America, and around the world, stay safe and well. At the time of his diagnosis, doctors gave Ryan only six months to live. On April 8, 1990, six precious years later, we sat together at Ryan's bedside and held his hands as he lost his young, heroic life to AIDS. First lady Barbara Bush attended his funeral, and businessman Donald Trump came to the family home to pay his respects. When Americans needed to take compassionate action, Ryan opened the door and urged everyone to take heart and to help. Four months later, in his name, Congress nearly unanimously enacted the Ryan White CARE Act – providing essential HIV care and treatment to Americans living with the virus. After years of fearmongering and paralysis, the U.S. government had finally committed to join the fight against our common enemy: AIDS. Ryan would be grateful for the progress being made. Today, more than 500,000 Americans living with HIV get lifesaving treatment through the Ryan White CARE Act. In 2019, President Trump proudly launched the End the HIV Epidemic initiative in his State of the Union address − a focused prevention effort to end the HIV epidemic in America by 2030. This evidence-based strategic initiative has achieved remarkable results, reducing new HIV infections by 21% in targeted communities and connecting people newly diagnosed with HIV to vital care and support services. This push to end AIDS is in full swing across America, but the work is not done yet – with young people, particularly in the South, now most severely impacted. We are grateful that the draft budget before Congress continues critically important funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and the End the HIV Epidemic efforts. That is an affirmation of these programs' effectiveness and bipartisan support. However, the proposal also would end federal funding to states for HIV surveillance, testing and education; for community-based organizations that reach those most at risk; and for substance abuse treatment and mental health programs that are crucial for driving down HIV infections. Attempts to cut Medicaid are also alarming, as more than 40% of people living with HIV have their care and treatment covered by Medicaid. Without this essential insurance, scores of people living with HIV won't get the care and medicines they need to keep them healthy. The president has said don't mess with Medicaid. We agree. Programs that provide treatment, fuel prevention and fight stigma should be expanded, not eliminated, as we work toward eradicating the disease that ended Ryan's life. The game-changing opportunity of the moment is to scale up prevention medication that keeps people HIV-free. The recent American-led development of PrEP − a pill or shot that prevents the virus from taking hold − is just the tool we need to end AIDS, but only if we make it accessible to those who need it. The economics are compelling: 14,000 people can receive generic PrEP ($30 annually) for the lifetime cost of treating one person with HIV ($420,285) − keeping Americans healthy, HIV-free and productive. The moment of truth is here. As the administration and Congress consider their investment priorities for next year, we urge them to continue joining forces in the fight against AIDS in the United States and worldwide. Together, their investments over time have created this once-in-a-generation opportunity to end AIDS in America by 2030, as called for by President Trump. Together they can seize that opportunity by banking on prevention. Ryan would expect nothing less.
