Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia

Overview

CIDRZ is now one of Zambia’s largest NGOs employing almost 700 Zambians who support health services in more than 423 clinics and hospitals in 31 districts over 5 Provinces. CIDRZ is an active partner of, and aims to be a permanent resource to, the Government of the Republic of Zambia and currently collaborates with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health, Ministry of Home Affairs Zambian Prisons Service, University of Zambia, and University Teaching Hospital (UTH), among others. The bulk of CIDRZ’s work is funded by competitive grants awarded by the U.S. government through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research networks. Other significant support has been provided by USAID, WHO, the European Union, Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Absolute Return for Kids, the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Comic Relief, among many others.The CIDRZ stated Vision is 'A Zambia and a region in which all people have access to quality healthcare and enjoy the best possible health, including a life free of AIDS. The CIDRZ Mission statement is 'To improve access to quality healthcare in Zambia through innovative capacity development, exceptional implementation science and research, and impactful and sustainable public health programmes.' This reflects the three dimensions that define the purpose of the CIDRZ: (1) research, (2) healthcare service programming and technical assistance, and (3) training. The focus areas of the bulk of CIDRZ programmes are: HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment; Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention and Control; Women's Health; Newborn and Child Health; Primary Care and Health Systems Strengthening; and Community Outreach. CIDRZ is also initiating work on Malaria and Hepatitis.

Leadership

In early 2013 the leadership of CIDRZ changed after ten years under the directorship of Dr. Jeffrey Stringer, and the organisation released a revised strategic plan. The current Director and Chief Executive Officer is Dr Charles Holmes MD, MPH, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer is Dr Izukanji Sikazwe MBChB. They are assisted in management of the organisation by a 5 member Executive Committee and a 10 member Leadership Team. CIDRZ is governed by a Board of Directors that comprise local and international leaders from healthcare and government. In August 2013, Consultant Paediatrician Dr Chipepo Kankasa, Director of the University of Zambia UTH HIV/AIDS programme and Paediatric HIV Centre of Excellence and UTH Family Support Unit programme for orphans and vulnerable children with HIV/AIDS; National Chair of the Ministry of Health Paediatric ART Technical Working Group and the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health PMTCT Technical Working Group; and Zambian investigator of the PROMISE Consortium PMTCT trial, joined the Board. While in December 2013, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, Ambassador Dr Eric Goosby, who served as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator from 2009 to 2013, leading all U.S. Government international HIV/AIDS efforts and overseeing implementation of the PEPFAR, as well as U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, joined the board. Recruitment of board members is ongoing.