Levy Mwanawasa Medical University Hosts Courtesy Call from Global Health and Academic Partners.
Lusaka, September 15, 2025. Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU) this morning hosted a high level delegation led by the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Global Health Institute of Health Research and Security. The visiting team included representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office, Niigata University of Japan, and the Ministry of Health.
Welcoming the delegation, LMMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Sekelani Banda, expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to
supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems.
Earlier this year, the delegation engaged with LMMU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor to introduce a project focused on building capacity within the Ministries of Health in Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania to enhance oral disease prevention and control services through the use of WHO essential preparations. As part of this initiative, the visiting team previously delivered a series of lectures attended by LMMU faculty and students.
“We are delighted to see this collaboration continue, particularly with the training of trainers program you are now conducting, which demonstrates your long-term commitment to this important project,” said Professor Banda. “At LMMU, we support innovations that reduce disease prevalence, and in this case, the fight against dental caries.”
Professor Banda highlighted LMMU’s unique role in oral health training, noting that it is one of only two public universities in Zambia offering dental surgery programs, and the sole institution
offering diploma level training in Dental Therapy and Dental Technology.
During the visit, Niigata University expressed interest in formal collaboration with LMMU, a gesture the Vice Chancellor warmly welcomed. He outlined priority areas for partnership, including staff development, research capacity, and student exchange programs.
“Our faculty needs to grow in order to enrich the experiences of our students,” he said. “As a young university, we must respond to the needs of our country by nurturing meaningful collaborations and impactful partnerships. This program is an opportunity to integrate oral health initiatives into our curriculum and strengthen our response to national health challenges.”
He added that such partnerships are critical to the future of LMMU:
“Change is important because it gives us opportunities for growth. Let us identify areas where we need support to help us build a stronger university and contribute effectively to national development.
The Vice Chancellor concluded by commending the visiting team for their initiative and wishedBthem a fruitful stay at LMMU and in Zambia.