news

The Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) is in the process of developing a 100 Bed capacity specialized private hospital to sit on the 5-acre piece of land located on the road frontage of Mumbwa road, 7 km from Lusaka CBD. The project is estimated to cost $15m, and being a not-for-profit organization, ZMA has facilitated the formation of an autonomous business entity called the Zambia Medical Association Cooperative (ZMAC) that will partner with ZMA members and the business community to capitalise this project, and oversee the subsequent construction and development of the hospital.

In light of this, ZMA launched the ZMAC, unveiled the ZMAC board, and announced the Hospital Project as the first initiative of the ZMAC. The hospital is envisaged to serve the local people of Kanyama, citizens of Zambia and overseas patients.

The launch took place on 1st February, 2020 at the ZMA plot on Mumbwa road in Lusaka.
In attendance were area Member of Parliament for Kanyama constituency and Minister of Gender, Hon. Elizabeth Phiri, MP, the Permanent Secretary Administration Ministry of Health, Ms Kakulubelwa Mulalelo, representative of the Mayor for the City of Lusaka -Mr Bwalya and area ward councillor, Mr Brighton Bilumba.

Hon. Elizabeth Phiri expressed positivity with the initiative, and wished for the immediate execution of the project. She noted that the medical needs of the large population in Kanyama cannot be met by the existing health facilities.

Health Permanent Secretary for Administration, Ms Kakulubelwa Mulalelo, elaborated that her Ministry goes an extra mile in helping realize such projects being embarked on by ZMA, because development of any health facility, private or public, is a positive step towards helping government realise the Universal Health Coverage agenda.

And ZMA President, Dr. Samson Chisele said the project is meant to increase access to health services among residents of Kanyama and beyond.

The inaugural ZMAC Board comprises:

1. Dr. Kevin Zimba – Chairperson
2. Dr. Patricia Shinondo – Vice Chairperson
3. Mr Phillimon Songolo – Secretary (Ex Officio)
4. Dr. Bright Moyo Jnr – Vice Secretary
5. Dr. Tamara Kaunda – Treasurer
6. Dr Jean Baptiste Nzaisenga – Committee Member
7. Dr. Isaac Sakala – Committee Member
8. Dr. Sam Musariri – Committee Member

The Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) Public Health Chairperson – Dr. Naeem Dalal representing Zambian Mental Health perspective at the World Economic Forum. He is the second Zambian Global Sharper to attend this forum that takes place annually in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. It is the foremost creative force for engaging the world’s top leaders in collaborative activities to shape global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of each year. The theme of the 2020 meeting is “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.”

Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.

Dr Dalal, a current curator of the Lusaka Global Shapers Hub is set to speak at TIME Magazine’s ‘The Youth Health Mental Crisis’ panel discussion. Dr Dalal will be bringing a Zambian perspective to Davos 2020 to ensure that world leaders continue to focus on mental health and turn their commitments and investment on mental health into action over the next year.

This award is given to a person who has made exceptional outstanding performance to healthcare and/or the practice of medicine by virtue of their everyday way of life and career. They in carrying out their daily duties in healthcare or otherwise, have highlighted aspects of the practice of the medical profession that capture the essence of selfless service and respect for patients and humanity in general. They continuously express great passion for public service, a virtue that we all must emulate and aspire to attain. Theirs is a distinguished public life laced with unwavering commitment to better the lives of others by addressing particular health matters and offering a selfless service to humanity through their work ethic. This is a life that can be appreciated by those not even in the medical profession and is awarded to individuals whose work transcends the medical profession.

The Award Recipient

The recipient has a distinguished record of academic and research achievements, hospital management, and high-level public administration. She is the founding Vice Chancellor for the Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, the first purpose-built health training Public University offering health profession education and training. Prior to this appointment, the recipient held the positions of Permanent Secretary Training in the Ministry of Health (MOH), Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. In her career as an academician at the University of Zambia (UNZA), she rose from Senior Lecturer to her current professorial rank. Her 40-year career in hospital administration included four years as the Managing Director of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Zambia’s largest hospital. As a researcher and pediatrician, she has published extensively in the areas of neurology, neonatology, HIV/AIDS, and child sexual abuse in reputable journals. The Award recipient is currently the Vice Chancellor, Senior Consultant Pediatrician at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University.

AWARDS/HONORS

• 1973 1st prize – Sir Ian Macadum for Best Student in Surgery/UNZA
• 1973 1st prize –Best Student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology/UNZA
• 1973 1st prize –Best Student Paediatrics/ UNZA
• 1973 MBChB Best graduating student /UNZA
• 1997 Received Merit Award for best clinical teaching skills funded by Department for International Development (DFID)

The ZMA 2019 Presidents Award (Highest honor of ZMA Awards) was Professor Elywn Nachanya Chomba.,

This award celebrates a young doctor who has been in practice for a few years in which he/she has shown distinguished service in the practice of modern medicine. The individual would have shown exceptional and outstanding medical professionalism, ethical conduct, innovation and/or commitment to practice of medicine within the available resources.This doctor exhibits unlimited potential, the exact representation of the enthusiasm the health sector requires and upon which the beacon of hope is built in an identified field of the profession adding to improved healthcare outcomes.

The Award recipient for the ZMA 2019 Young Doctors Award was Dr.Arnold Bhebhe. He is currently a 3rd year registrar in the division of neurosurgery and is a member of College of Surgeons for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa (COSECSA) pursuing a fellowship in neurosurgery

As a community we have the responsibility to ensure that we protect, provide and empower our young generation especially the girl child.

At the aerobics session today, we has a shared experience from Margaret. Margaret is a Lusaka resident who shared her story of over a decade of GBV in her marriage. Her message was to the youth. She reports her son decided to take matters into his hands and empowered his mom (Margaret) to seek help from Victim Support Unit. Margaret requests the youth to help women and many others to break their cycle of GBV.

“Youth need to help because if it was not for my son, I was just waiting, I did not know what to do as society and communities say this is a marriage. that was our generation. I was married in 1997, my first born was born in 1998. 1997 to 2013, I was living with GBV. My first born helped me get out of the cycle of GBV.”

Zambia Medical Association, Public Health chair Dr. Dalal Naeem echoed Margaret’s story and expressed concern as there are many Margaret’s living among us today. Dr Dalal explained that GBV can be physical violence, psychological and emotional violence. He urges citizens to come forward and seek medical attention as many feel health care providers will judge. However he expressed that as Health Care providers and doctors,

• We will not judge GBV.
• We will not blame GBV.
• We will listen to GBV.
• We will not tell GBV what to do.
• We will not make GBV report the case to the police, until and unless they are ready to.
• We want what’s best for GBV’s well-being.

Zambia Medical Association joined the global community in commemorating 16 Days of GBV in partnership with Whisper a dream foundation, Team Busy, Zambia Sugar, Russian Science and cultural center, Lusaka Global Shapers Hub and Diamond TV

In keeping with the theme, ZMA thanks Whisper A dream foundation and all partners for bringing light to the 2019 theme of GBV which is

“Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!”

The Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has disclosed that it will no longer renew Practicing Certificates for health practitioners who do not undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to improve their knowledge and skills.

HPCZ Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Bwembya Bwalya says CPD is a prerequisite for renewal of Practicing Certificates and it is, therefore, mandatory that health practitioners produce evidence of having engaged in Continuing Professional Development.

Mr. Bwalya has urged practitioners to utilise the various forms of CPD that include short training, attending lectures, clinical meetings and seminars among others.

Continuing Professional Development ensures that practitioners retain their capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice.

https://web.facebook.com/Mwebantu/videos/431963707391887

Last evening, Texila American University invited the Zambia Medical Association President, Dr.Samson Chisele to grace the occasion as Guest of Honour at the University’s discussion dubbed ‘Public Health Emergencies-The Role of Public Health Professionals’.
It was an insightful talk that highlighted the importance of public health professionals,the strides they have made as well as challenges being faced.
In attendance was Texila American University Vice Chancellor Dr. Vijayakumar Rajarathinam and other medical doctors.
The night was followed with a networking dinner…
Zambia Medical Association wishes to thank the University for the opportunity to be a part of this important discussion.