When the third wave of COVID-19 hit Zambia, there was deep concern among the Zambian diaspora, who made both individual and collective efforts to help a struggling healthcare system cope with the ravaging pandemic. The reality that healthcare workers were dying for lack of adequate personal protective equipment moved our community to act.
Dr. David Kazhila — former GAZHP founding president and current Global Director for Healthcare at the Africa Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI) — approached Her Excellency Ambassador Arikana, CEO and founder of ADDI, to ask whether the two organisations could work together. Ambassador Arikana agreed and immediately arranged a fundraiser, inviting Zambian healthcare professionals, represented by GAZHP president Dr. Joseph Yikona, alongside Zambia's Ambassador to the USA, Mr. Kapambwe.
An extraordinary collaboration
Funds to sponsor a 40-tonne load of medical equipment and PPE were raised in record time, through donations from across the diaspora — not only from Zambians, but from fellow African nations, African Americans, African Caribbeans, African Latinos and friends of Africa. GAZHP contributed US$5,000 toward ADDI's US$25,000 target.
The container was destined for the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, to be received by Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Charles Mutemba, with equipment distributed accordingly.
The journey home
The shipment left Atlanta in September 2021 and was due to arrive at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 10 December 2021. The Zambian government was expected to transport the equipment from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka for distribution.