Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi has ordered 123 officers out of the Ministry of Health headquarters in Lusaka and back to their original stations. Every remaining post at Ndeke House now faces a qualifications audit, in a clean-up aimed at pushing more staff to the…

Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi has ordered 123 officers out of the Ministry of Health headquarters in Lusaka and back to their original stations. Every remaining post at Ndeke House now faces a qualifications audit, in a clean-up aimed at pushing more staff to the front line of the health service.

An internal assessment found that the 123 officers had been working at headquarters under temporary administrative arrangements. Their positions supported central operations, but they fell outside the ministry’s approved 2021 establishment, which caps headquarters staffing at 403 positions. The ministry described the move as part of a comprehensive institutional clean-up and operational optimisation exercise, aimed at enforcing strict structural compliance and restoring administrative integrity across the healthcare sector.

In a ministerial statement dated 13 October 2026, Prof Chilengi said all the affected officers would be redirected immediately to their substantive stations, where their official pay points and original postings are based. The ministry said the move would eliminate structural redundancies and address critical operational personnel needs across the country.

“This step will immediately bolster healthcare delivery at front-line health facilities and decentralised administrative centres,” Prof Chilengi said.

The return of the 123 officers is only the first phase. Once they have been moved, the ministry will carry out a full qualification and competency assessment of everyone holding a post within the approved 403-member headquarters establishment.

Each position will be measured against established professional standards and job descriptions, to determine whether the officers holding them have the required academic, professional and technical qualifications. Staff who fall short for their headquarters roles will be reassigned to operational stations that match their verified credentials.

“This exercise establishes a vital operational baseline as the ministry of health continues to strengthen governance frameworks, streamline administrative efficiency and deliver high-quality public healthcare across the nation,” Prof Chilengi said.

The ministry said the exercise will strengthen administrative accountability and ensure that staff are deployed in line with approved structures and operational needs. It also expects staffing levels to rise at service delivery points, where patients are seen.

The shake-up comes with the health system under pressure from a cholera outbreak. The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) has recorded 55 new cases and one death in 24 hours, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 874 since the outbreak began.

The cumulative death toll has risen to 23. As of Tuesday, 777 patients had recovered and been discharged, while 74 remained in hospital.

Thirteen districts have been affected. Lusaka has recorded the highest number of cases at 429, followed by Chibombo with 217. Chilanga has 46 cases, Mpulungu 42, Chongwe 36 and Chiengi 33.

Mwansabombwe and Nsama have recorded 20 cases each, Mwense 15 and Nchelenge 11. Chikankata and Monze have two each, and Kalomo has one.

The institute has urged the public to wash their hands with soap and clean water, drink boiled or treated water, cook food thoroughly and use clean toilets. It also stressed proper hygiene when handling food and keeping sanitation facilities clean.

Districts without cases are also preparing. In Lumezi, which has recorded no suspected cases, director of health services Evans Phiri said rapid response teams had been activated at facility and district levels, and health workers had been trained to pick up symptoms early.

Dr Phiri said two facilities had been identified for isolating and managing cases. Rapid diagnostic test kits, medicines and intravenous fluids had been set aside.

“A cholera patient may die just from dehydration, just the loss of fluids in the body. So we have kept fluids just for this cause,” Dr Phiri said.

At Ndeke House, the qualifications review of the 403 approved posts is next. The 123 officers are being returned to their substantive stations, where the ministry says they are most needed.