| Building a solid foundation to save more lives, contribute cutting-edge research, and train Africa's public health leaders of the future
Since 2001, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) has substantially contributed to improving the health of Zambians affected by the HIV epidemic through providing healthcare service to boost the public h ealth system, conducting high-quality ethical research to find better ways to diagnosis and treat disease, and training clinicians and the next generation of Zambian public health practitioners. CIDRZ became an independent local non-governmental organization in 2011 embracing the opportunity, and the challenge, to build a deeply-rooted and strong Zambian health organisation. Now under the experienced stewardship of Deputy CEO Dr Izukanji Sikazwe, a leading Zambian physician, and CEO Dr Charles Holmes, the former Deputy U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Chief Medical Officer, and an impressive Board of highly respected Zambian and International Directors, CIDRZ is on a strong forward course. CIDRZ leadership and staff are focusing on achieving the objectives of a new three-year strategic plan, including rapid improvements in program quality, pursuit of new research directions to better serve the needs of Zambia, and tangibly strengthening the capacity and accountability of cross-cutting functions in finance, human resource management, laboratory services and internal audit. CIDRZ employs almost 1000 Zambians actively engaged in all elements of this work, and is forging new collaborations in order to attract the best minds to solve important health problems. Having expanded access to innovative cervical cancer screening and treatment to over 165,000 women; created new methods to better monitor HIV program quality; and reduced under-five mortality through the rapid expansion of rotavirus vaccine use, CIDRZ is poised to make many critical contributions to health in Zambia in the coming years. What CIDRZ needs now is a reserve fund that will provide the needed financial flexibility so we can act quickly on innovative ideas and strategic opportunities, and continue to enhance local capacity so that we can build further on the high-quality work we conduct under challenging conditions. July 2014, CIDRZ leadership and Board of Directors launched a first-ever campaign to raise USD 2.5 million to fund our public health efforts, and to act as a sustaining force for CIDRZ in support of many more years of lifesaving work. This goal will not only allow CIDRZ to directly save more lives of those most in need, but will help provide leadership and management training for key Zambian staff, allow CIDRZ to invest in critical new laboratory diagnostic tools, and improve our institutional standing with key funders who require organizations such as ours to meet worldwide financial capacity standards. CIDRZ has an outstanding partner to assist us in this process, the Accordia Global Health Foundation, an organization dedicated to building Africa's permanent capacity for health leadership and innovation, through the establishment and support of sustainable African Health Institutions. Accordia retains a small portion of all gifts, to support advocacy and technical assistance for its network of Sustainable African Health Institutions, of which CIDRZ is an active member. We ask for your help in saving lives in Zambia, and to assist us to grow the deep roots of CIDRZ so that it may flourish and positively contribute for many generations. Please contact Dr Charles Holmes ([email protected]) to discuss the potential health impact of various levels of support, and/or make a secure online donation today! Learn more about the campaign | 
