Dr. Chitalu Chilufya Honored with ZMA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) has awarded former Health Minister, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024, recognizing his transformative leadership and dedication to the country’s healthcare sector.

ZMA highlighted Dr. Chilufya’s remarkable contributions during his tenure as Health Minister from 2016 to 2021, noting that his visionary leadership ushered in unprecedented changes in Zambia’s health sector. Among his notable achievements was the establishment of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), a milestone in the country’s pursuit of universal health coverage.

Dr. Chilufya also spearheaded initiatives that expanded medical education, including the founding of the Levy Mwanawasa Medical University and the Zambia College of Medicine and Surgery. These institutions have become pivotal in training Zambia’s future healthcare professionals, ending a reliance on the Ridgeway campus of the University of Zambia as the sole public training facility since independence in 1964.

Infrastructure development was another hallmark of Dr. Chilufya’s leadership, with health facilities built or upgraded across all 116 districts, bolstered by an increase in human resources to enhance the resilience of Zambia’s healthcare system.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chilufya demonstrated exemplary leadership in coordinating Zambia’s response, earning recognition for his strategic planning both locally and internationally. His role on the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) board further cemented his influence in shaping continental health policies.

ZMA described the Lifetime Achievement Award as a testament to Dr. Chilufya’s enduring legacy and his profound impact on the health and well-being of Zambians. His contributions, ZMA noted, continue to inspire and set a high standard for excellence in the medical community.

As a professional body, ZMA remains committed to advancing the practice of medicine for the benefit of society while upholding values such as transparency, accountability, and ethical governance. The award to Dr. Chilufya reflects these principles and celebrates his extraordinary contributions to the medical field.