01/12/2025
Doctor Spotlight: Dr Aaron Mwango A Life of Service, Courage, and Leadership
In every district he has served, one truth has remained constant about Dr Aaron Mwango: he shows up for people. From his early years as a young doctor to his current role as District Health Director for Chasefu, his journey reflects courage, innovation, and unwavering dedication to rural healthcare.
Dr Mwango began his medical career in 2017 after graduating from the University of Zambia, Ridgeway Campus. He started at Chipata Central Hospital as a Junior Resident Medical Officer before moving to Petauke District Hospital as a Senior Resident Medical Officer. When Nyanje Mission Hospital was left without a doctor, he was transferred there and served as the only doctor for nearly eight months. His commitment later earned him the position of Medical Officer in Charge for Nyimba District Hospital, and in 2023 he was appointed District Health Director for Chasefu.
One of the defining moments of his career occurred during the COVID-19 second wave at Nyanje Mission Hospital. A woman arrived with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, severely ill and COVID-positive. With no possibility of referring her to a distant centre, Dr Mwango operated on her alone, filling the roles of both doctor and anesthetist. She survived and later graduated as a nurse, a reminder of the life-changing power of immediate, courageous action.
During his time at Nyimba District Hospital, he introduced innovative income-generating projects that transformed service delivery. The hospital opened a restaurant, provided conference services, improved NHIMA processes, and began institutional maize farming, harvesting thirty bags for patient use. These efforts enabled the facility to purchase essential emergency medical supplies despite financial challenges.
As District Health Director for Chasefu, he has focused on strengthening basic healthcare systems. Through strong collaboration with local leadership, fourteen health facilities received solar backup systems, ensuring women no longer deliver in darkness. Water systems were rehabilitated, boreholes were restored, and previously underserved facilities gained reliable water access. His leadership also led to improvements in TB notifications, earning recognition at the national ZAFENET Scientific Conference, while Chasefu continued to excel under PEPFAR assessments.
He contributed nationally by participating in the development of the 2022 STI Treatment Guidelines, as well as Zambiaโs first national Yellow Fever, Meningitis, and Measles surveillance guidelines under ZNPHI.
Transport challenges in Nyimba, where only one functional vehicle existed, inspired him to repair an old vehicle and turn it into a backup ambulance. The same model has been adopted in Chasefu, improving referrals and supervision services.
Chasefuโs greatest challenge today is the absence of a first-level hospital, and Dr Mwango has already begun taking steps by procuring theatre equipment and seeking CDF support for a radiology unit. He believes strongly that devolution is creating new opportunities for meaningful progress.
Dr Mwango dreams of one day specialising in Neurosurgery, a passion inspired by meeting Zambiaโs renowned neurosurgeon, Dr Kachinga Sichizya, during his school years. For now, he is committed to deeply understanding the social, economic, political, and spiritual challenges that ordinary Zambians face so he can one day lead with wisdom and empathy.
One story that stays with him is when he successfully operated on a woman with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, earning the gratitude and trust of the father to the patient, who later on also needed surgery and was quick to accept the operation due to the visible competency of Dr. Mwango.
In 2024, he was recognised as the Most Hardworking Head of Department for Chasefu by the District Commissioner. He also acknowledges the mentorship of Dr Martin Mbewe, Director of Health for Chipata, whose guidance has shaped his professional journey.
Helping people, he says, fulfills him beyond money or recognition. For him, service is a calling.
The Zambia Medical Association celebrates Dr Aaron Mwango for his extraordinary leadership, compassion, and contribution to strengthening healthcare systems. His story is a reminder of the impact a dedicated doctor can make, one community at a time.
