15/12/2025
Dr. Chilufya Mwansa โ Service, Sacrifice, and the Healing Power of Hope
For Dr. Chilufya Mwansa, medicine is more than a profession. It is a calling shaped by service, sacrifice, and an unshakable belief in healing.
A graduate of the Copperbelt University School of Medicine in April 2021, Dr. Mwansa has spent the last three years on the frontlines of healthcare in Zambia. Even before formal internship, her journey into service began during one of the most difficult periods in modern healthcare history. During the second wave of COVID-19, she served as a frontline health worker under the World Health Organization, witnessing both the heartbreak of loss and the power of resilience.
In 2022, she commenced her internship at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, where she was exposed to the intensity of high-volume clinical care. Today, she serves as a Senior Resident Medical Officer at Chongwe District Hospital and is entrusted with the responsibility of Acting Head of Clinical Care. In this role, she manages patients with diverse conditions and temperaments, a daily reminder that medicine requires both clinical skill and emotional intelligence. Through experience, she has learned that professionalism, empathy, and patience are just as vital as diagnosis and treatment.
Like many district hospitals, Chongwe faces challenges. Limited equipment means some procedures cannot be performed, and the absence of facilities such as an Intensive Care Unit often requires urgent referrals. Yet within these constraints, Dr. Mwansa continues to make impact. She has successfully diagnosed and managed a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, applying timely decision-making and clinical guidelines to reduce complications and improve patient outcomes.
Leadership has been one of her most defining lessons. Serving as Acting Head of Clinical Care has deepened her understanding of teamwork, coordination, and accountability. Beyond the hospital walls, she is actively involved in public health education, particularly in tuberculosis awareness and prevention, reinforcing her belief that healthcare extends into the community.
What truly sustains her are the human stories behind the stethoscope. She remembers a critically ill COVID-19 patient with multiple comorbidities who survived against the odds and later returned, healthy and smiling. She speaks of a cancer patient in palliative care whose final days were defined not by cure, but by compassion, dignity, and love.
Working during the COVID era showed her just how much her country needs its doctors. The pain of losing lives was heavy, but the joy of seeing others recover reaffirmed her purpose. For Dr. Mwansa, the greatest reward is simple and profoundโseeing patients get better and return home. To her, each recovery is a living testimony, a moment where she witnesses healing firsthand.
Looking ahead, Dr. Mwansa aspires to specialize in Family Medicine, drawn by its breadth and versatility. She hopes to serve patients of all ages and conditions, meeting Zambiaโs evolving health needs without limitation. Her commitment to ethical practice, lifelong learning, and continuous improvement remains firm.
Above all, her journey is deeply personal. She is driven by the memory of her late father, whose belief in her continues to inspire her pursuit of excellence.
The Zambia Medical Association proudly celebrates Dr. Chilufya Mwansa for her dedication, resilience, and unwavering service to humanity. ZMA honors medical professionals whose work continues to uplift communities, inspire the profession, and strengthen healthcare in Zambia. Join us as we recognize and celebrate the doctors who serve with heart, purpose, and excellence.
