He’s celebrated for Zambia’s health sector transformation, establishing a multi-sectoral, community-based system focused on primary health care, and steering the country toward universal health coverage!
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka, Sept. 4 – Dr. Chitalu Chilufya remains Zambia’s most transformational and visionary Minister of Health behind the national health strategic plan that reengineered the health sector, realigning it to the global agenda of Universal Health Coverage.
Also Read: Hon. Masebo lacks understanding of the essence of Universal Health Coverage!
He served as Minister of Health from 2016 to 2021, and as Deputy Minister from 2013 to 2016. Prior to his work as a politician, he was first a clinical care specialist for Luapula Province for six years under the USAID funded Health Systems Strengthening Project, and later as the Head of Clinical Care and Quality Assurance at Zambia Health Systems Integrated Programme.
He earlier served at different levels of the public health system, including being District Director of Health in a rural district, called Namwala. But he’s renowned for radically transforming the health sector and placing the country on a firm path to achieving universal health coverage.
Under his watch, a multi sectoral, community based, and primary health care anchored health system took shape. He introduced the Health in All Policy and advocated for the social determinants approach to health; a new directorate was birthed called Health Promotion Environment and Social Determinants.
During his tenure, as part of the universal health coverage agenda, the country embarked on a massive infrastructure expansion program building six specialist hospitals, over 40 district hospitals and way beyond 500 primary health care facilities.
He is credited with the establishment of the country’s national health insurance program, as part of his health care financing policy.
He pioneered the establishment of the Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, the first ever public medical university, with an initial enrollment of 5,000 students. He further set up the Zambia College of Medicine and Surgery, that churned out more than 300 multidisciplinary specialists in the first five years.
This radically and irreversibly changed the landscape for Zambia’s Human Resource for Health.
He pioneered the set up of the country’s National Public Health Institute, a specialized surveillance and disease intelligence unit, through which he successfully led the country’s response to the Covid-19 and Cholera outbreaks.
He served on the inaugural board of the Africa Centre for Disease control, for three years, and was appointed member of the Africa Union Covid-19 response Committee.
Dr. Chilufya remains a steadfast advocate for strengthened and climate resilient health systems for universal health coverage! When you are voting for political leadership, why do you shy result oriented leadership yet you expect positive results in the key sectors of the economy?
Also Read: Dr. Chilufya urges Govt to implement the One Health Approach.
About The Author: Mpandashalo Mwewa, currently the Chief Editor at Woodpecker’s Digest, formerly held the same role at Zambia Reports. Known for championing Pan-African education reforms with a focus on critical thinking, he employs journalism to instigate social transformation.
About Us: Woodpecker’s Digest, an online platform, provides analyses and commentaries on pertinent issues of national interest, complemented by articles focusing on personal development and health. Journalism is a powerful tool for driving positive socio-economic change!
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