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Dr Sompwe L Mwansa, Lusaka (2025)

13/09/2025

Today is World Sepsis Day, a day to commemorate and reflect on this life-threatening condition that affects millions of people globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, the burden is even higher, with sepsis contributing to a large proportion of hospital mortality.

I am honoured to be part of the campaign by the WFSA - World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists calling for greater awareness of sepsis and a concerted, multidisciplinary effort to manage sepsis and save lives.

As anaesthesiologists, our expertise in perioperative care, resuscitation and critical care mean that we are often at the frontline of recognising and managing sepsis. But it requires teamwork: everyone has a role to play in prevention, early recognition, and treatment.

Let’s work together to PREVENT, TREAT and DEFEAT sepsis.

01/09/2025

It has been a week since the 75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa, where I had the privilege of delivering the WFSA - World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists statement in support of the Framework to Advance Universal Access to Safe, Effective and Quality-Assured Blood Products in the WHO African Region (2026–2030).

Our statement also highlighted the need for the integration of Patient Blood Management (PBM) into national health plans not only to improve surgical and anaesthetic outcomes but also reduce unnecessary transfusions and preserves scarce blood resources.

It was an honour to bring the voice of anaesthesiologists to this important, continental forum, reinforcing our role in advancing safe surgery, safe anaesthesia, and resilient health systems across Africa.

28/08/2025

What an incredible honour it was to participate in the WFSA - World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists special side event on Patient Blood Management (PBM) held alongside the 75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lusaka.

This event brought together policymakers, health leaders, and clinicians from across the continent to reflect on the critical role of safe surgery, safe anaesthesia, and PBM in strengthening health systems and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

PBM is not just about reducing unnecessary transfusions – it is about improving patient outcomes, preserving scarce blood resources, and embedding sustainable, evidence-based practices at the heart of perioperative care.
It was inspiring to learn from colleagues across Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the SADC region as we work together to build safe anaesthesia and surgery systems on this beautiful continent.

20/08/2025

Just a few more days until the special side event hosted by the WFSA - World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) at the 75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa, being held in our nation's capital.

This event will bring both clinicians and policymakers together to discuss how Patient Blood Management (PBM) is an essential component of strengthening African health systems and ensuring access to universal health care.

On behalf of the Society of Anaesthetists of Zambia and our hosts, it is my pleasure to invite colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to join us this Sunday at the Radisson Blu for this important and engaging conversation.

Let’s work together towards safer, more sustainable blood health policies that benefit our patients and our communities.

23/07/2025

I am incredibly excited to be joining the Pan African Organisation for Health, Education and Research (POHER) this Saturday for their Professional Development Series on Choosing a Specialty/Surgical Subspecialty.

As a member of the perioperative team, I am looking forward to sharing this platform with my surgical colleagues from across the continent, discussing some of the decisions, the challenges, the unexpected turns, and the deep fulfilment that comes with caring for patients from the other end of the surgical screen.

If you're a medical student, intern, or early-career doctor considering your next steps, I hope this session offers clarity, encouragement, and perhaps even a bit of inspiration.

30/06/2025

Global collaboration, global representation.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the General Assembly of the WFSA - World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists. It was my honour, yet again to represent the Society of Anaesthetists of Zambia and Zambian anaesthesia on a platform like this and actively participate in the global anaesthetic fraternity.

It may have been a working Sunday afternoon, and yes, it was a virtual business meeting—but it was also a powerful reminder of the strength and spirit of our global anaesthesia community.

Across time zones and continents, we are united in our mission: to achieve safe anaesthesia for all. I’m proud to be part of this thriving, dedicated, and collaborative network of professionals working to improve care and equity in every corner of the world.

09/06/2025

Anaesthesia and Surgery: "phone na sim" (phone and sim card), poignant words from the new president of the Surgical Society of Zambia, Dr Victor Mapulanga. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the perspective of anaesthesia within the broader surgical ecosystem.

Surgery and anaesthesia are inseparable — both are critical to delivering safe, effective, and equitable surgical care. Our futures are truly intertwined, and collaboration across specialties is key to strengthening our health system.

Congratulations once again, to Dr. Mapulanga, his vice, Dr Mumba Chalwe-Kaja and secretary general, Dr Mwamba JC Mulenga and the rest of the executive committee. I wish you every success as you lead the Society forward.

Here’s to continued partnership, innovation, and progress in surgical and perioperative care across Zambia.

04/06/2025

All roads lead to the Copperbelt this Friday and I am honoured to participate in the upcoming The Surgical Society of Zambia Conference, where I’ll be representing the Society of Anaesthetists of Zambia in my capacity as President.

I have the privilege of sitting on two panel discussions, engaging in thought-provoking conversations about the progress, challenges, and future of surgical care in our country.

Anaesthesia and perioperative care are essential to every safe surgical journey, and I’m proud to stand alongside our surgical colleagues as we work together to strengthen systems, build capacity, and ensure better outcomes for all Zambians.

23/05/2025

In September, 2022, I took a leap of faith and joined the inaugural cohort of the PATA programme under the WFSA. This week, my journey to subspecialty came full circle and I was conferred a Master of Science in Specialised Medicine in Paediatric Anaesthesia and Critical Care by the University of Zambia.

Of course, a moment of profound personal meaning, this milestone is also a marker of progress for specialised paediatric care in Zambia and the region. It represents an academic and intellectual investment in anaesthesiologists like myself to meet the unique needs of children — safely, skillfully, and compassionately.

There is still more to be done but moments like this inspire, encourage and compel us to keep moving forward!

09/05/2025

At the end of April, I had the privilege of representing the Society of Anaesthetists of Zambia at a national stakeholder meeting focused on strengthening perioperative care across the country. It was a wonderful 2 days of meaningful dialogue aimed at shaping policy to ensure that perioperative services in Zambia are safe, efficient, and patient-centered.

Just a few days later, I returned to my PATA roots, joining the faculty team for the Managing Emergencies in Paediatric Anaesthesia (MEPA) course. Over two intensive days, we trained two cohorts of anaesthesia providers equipping them with the critical skills needed to manage life-threatening paediatric emergencies.

Both experiences underscored the importance of collaboration, training, and policy in driving forward the quality of perioperative care in Zambia. I'm grateful to be part of a growing movement focused on capacity building and safer anaesthesia for all.

26/04/2025

This past week, I had the privilege of being part of something truly special — the inaugural Multidisciplinary Skills Workshop, held in Lusaka from April 23–25, 2025.

This initiative brought together medical societies from across Zambia with a shared purpose: to equip early career medical doctors with the practical, context-relevant skills they need to deliver lifesaving care — no matter where they’re posted. From emergency airway management and shock resuscitation to surgical, paediatric, and ENT emergencies, among many others, the workshop emphasized one clear truth: we save more lives when we work together.

On behalf of the Society of Anaesthetists of Zambia (SAZ), I was honoured to coordinate and contribute to the Advanced Airway and Perioperative Crisis Management Workshop — simulation-based course fused with core didactic teaching that focused on critical interventions during emergencies.

I’m incredibly proud of our brilliant faculty — who taught with excellence — our early postgraduate trainees, who stepped up and delivered with skill, passion, and professionalism. The future of anaesthesia, and of multidisciplinary emergency care in Zambia, is bright.

Behind the scenes, I had the opportunity to contribute to the planning, curriculum development, and coordination of this effort — and seeing it come to life this week has been both humbling and energising.

Here’s to continued collaboration, shared learning, and strengthening care at every level of our health system.

24/03/2025

This past Thursday was a flurry of excitement and activity as we kicked off the Symposium on Perioperative Care: "Elevating Perioperative Care – Advocating for Best Practice."

The event brought together anaesthesiologists and anaesthetists, surgeons, pharmacists, and policymakers, all united by a common goal: to push the boundaries of perioperative medicine in Zambia.

I was honored to sit on a panel alongside esteemed colleagues for an honest, thought-provoking, and—most importantly—solution-driven conversation, where we discussed the barriers to adopting international best practices and the strategies needed to modernise our approach to perioperative pharmacology.

As the evening drew to a close, I had the opportunity to deliver a presentation on "Transitioning to Modern Perioperative Care," understanding that change in healthcare does not happen overnight, but it begins with events like this—where knowledge is shared, collaborations are formed, and a collective commitment to progress is made.

Leaving the symposium, I felt a deep sense of optimism and urgency. This is not just about introducing new medications or updating protocols—it’s about redefining the standard of care for our patients. The momentum is here, and I am hopeful that this marks the beginning of a new era for perioperative care in Zambia.

A huge thank you to our partners, The Surgical Society of Zambia, Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia, Ethypharm all the speakers, and attendees who made this symposium a success. Let’s keep the conversation going and turn these discussions into tangible action.

Dr Sompwe L Mwansa

13/09/2025

01/09/2025

28/08/2025

20/08/2025

23/07/2025

30/06/2025

09/06/2025

04/06/2025

23/05/2025

09/05/2025

26/04/2025

24/03/2025

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