FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba has observed that Government needs partnership to provide quality health services to citizens.

Dr Kaseba said the private sector played a major role in providing clinical care.

She said this yesterday during the Sweden-Zambia Health Conference and Expo held in Lusaka at Hotel InterContinental which has attracted Swedish companies dealing in health provision.

The conference is aimed at exchanging views and experiences on how cooperation between the private and public sectors could strengthen the health system in Zambia.

Dr Kaseba said Zambia required massive investment in the health service because of its huge disease burden originating from within and from neighbouring countries.

'The relatively high exposure to disease, the relative lack of capacity to prevent diseases and limitation to access health services have all been cited as major causes of Zambia's health problems," Dr Kaseba said.

She said infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, respiratory tract infections were still prevalent compounded by malnutrition and the emerging non-communicable diseases.

She said there was no way Zambia could manage such conditions on its own and stay on course to provide other basic social needs like education, shelter, sanitation and many others.

The First Lady said successful partnership in the health sector through the health reforms had made Zambia a favourable destination for Foreign Direct Investment in health.

Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Lena Nordstrom said Zambia should reach out to the most remote places in the rural areas with quality care for pregnant women or children.

Ms Nordstrom said the time was ripe for Zambia and Sweden to expand their relationship beyond the traditional and aid structure.

Swedish Secretary of State who led the Swedish companies Karin Johansson said the firms were in Zambia to enhance the already existing collaborations that had existed for more than 50 years.

She said the mission was in Zambia looking at business development opportunities and wanted to explore if the Swedish life science could play a part in developing health services in Zambia.