The year 2010 marked the end of an era for CHAZ in that it was the final year of implementation for the Association’s 2006-2010 Strategic Plan and HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan. The review of the Association’s Strategic plan was one of the most prominent undertakings for the Association in 2010. Indications are that during this period the Association experienced an unprecedented exponential growth in terms of scope and scale of interventions but also in terms of the resources the Association has managed over the past five years. The growth can further be seen in terms of the numerical increase in the number of staff at Secretariat including those in the provinces and, increasingly, the number of support staff employed under programs within CHIs. This can also be said about the number of members for the Association which currently stands at 146. It was an important year for reflecting over the business of the Association over the last five years.
The Association also undertook the development of the new Strategic Plan covering 2011-2015.
The development considered among many things, CHAZ yearly performances, review of strategic direction for the Association, detailed intra and inter organisation consultations with stakeholders. The consultations reviewed the need for CHAZ to broaden its mandate in the health sector transcending current thrust on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The review further accentuated the urgent demand to delve and address programs and Association sustainability.
The Strategic Plan (2011-2015), will articulate this matter and devise viable ways of implementation. In the period under review, formal assessments have been carried out on CHAZ. Of these assessments such as the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audit; the all underscore the need for the Association to strengthen internal controls and systems to build on the good work that has been attained. This is the essence of a learning organisation and which must be the bedrock of CHAZ’s growth. This is from the Secretariat right up to each member of the Association; for a weakness in one member is a weakness for the whole organisation. This is imperative given our partners have a renewed interest in value for money and cost effectiveness but perhaps more importantly because this is in keeping with our frontline role in the health sector, second only to the Ministry of Health. While the assessments and audits stressed systems strengthening, there are good tidings on the other side. It is pleasing to report that, the anticipated HIV Round 10 Grant and the Phase 2 of Malaria and TB Round 7 were all approved by the Global Fund. The Round 10 Grant entails that funding for ART services will continue for the next five years. Suffice to say CHAZ was nominated by the Country Coordinating
Mechanism (CCM) – Zambia to participate in the implementation of Round 10.
The other good news is that the Association saw the completion of the new warehouse off Great East Road; this will be an important asset as the Association seeks to increase capacity of medical products warehousing and to strengthen sustainability. The complex houses a generous storage space, offices and space for further development.
The Global Fund OIG audit report for Zambia was released during the second half of the year. This audit was strenuous and conducted over six weeks on all Principle Recipients: the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, ZNAN and CHAZ. I am proud to mention that, CHAZ was not requested to refund any money but as any audit usually is, there were lessons for the organisation. For example, there is need to strengthen
systems at all levels such as financial, monitoring and evaluation and internal audit to mention but a few.
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