MWAZ honours female trailblazers in medicine

To appreciate their outstanding leadership, advocacy and mentorship in the medical field, about seven women medical doctors were recognised during the AGM and scientific conference.

Fridah Kazembe: Zambia’s first female Brigadier General

The MWAZ President’s Award was presented to Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr Fridah Sakala Kazembe, Zambia’s first female Brigadier General.

Her journey is historic.

In 1977, while studying medicine at the University of Zambia, Dr Kazembe joined the Zambia Army as an Officer Cadet.

She completed her medical degree in 1979, undertook her internship at the University Teaching Hospital, and later completed her Officer Cadet training with the Zambia Air Force in Livingstone.

At the time, she was the only female medical doctor in the Zambia Army; a distinction she held alone for 40 years, until Dr Lt Col Serenje and the current generation of young women doctors followed in her footsteps.

Dr Kazembe rose with distinction through the ranks to become Commandant of Maina Soko Military Hospital.

In 2009, she made history as the first woman in the Zambia Army to attain the rank of Brigadier General.

Her contribution extends far beyond clinical practice.

From 1990, she served as Honorary Lecturer at the University of Zambia, teaching and mentoring generations of medical students.

She chaired the Defence Force Disaster Committee on Medical Services and helped formulate Zambia’s national disaster-response plans.

In 2003, she represented Zambia at MEDFLOOD, a six-week disaster-management exercise in Morocco.

What began as a simulated flood-response exercise became a real-life mission when actual floods struck; her team provided medical care to communities that had gone years without structured health services.

Dr Kazembe’s career is proof that the integration of women strengthens the Army – in military medicine, professional training, institutional leadership and national disaster-response capability.

Christine Kaseba-Sata: Championing women’s health

The 2026 MWAZ Women’s Health Advocacy Award was presented to Dr Christine Mwelwa Kaseba-Sata.

The former First Lady was given the award in recognition of her outstanding advocacy for women’s health, commitment to advancing the wellbeing of women and girls and distinguished service to public health in Zambia and beyond.

Dr Kaseba-Sata is a distinguished Zambian physician, diplomat and global health leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing reproductive, maternal, adolescent and women’s health.

An accomplished Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, policy advocate, educator and mentor, she has worked at the intersection of clinical medicine, health systems strengthening, international diplomacy and global health advocacy.

Among her notable achievements is her advocacy role as First Lady in cervical cancer prevention which helped secure support for Zambia’s HPV vaccination demonstration project from Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and scale up screening services through the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Initiative.

Mwansa Ketty Lubeya: Mentoring emerging medical researchers

The MWAZ Mentorship Award was given to Dr Mwansa Ketty Lubeya, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, academic and public health researcher.

Dr Lubeya is a co-founder of the Young Emerging Scientists (YES) Zambia leadership and research mentorship programme, which supports undergraduate medical students and early-career doctors through mentorship, research skills development and leadership training, contributing to sustainable national research and leadership capacity.

Velepi Catherine Mtonga: Four decades of public service

As for Dr Velepi Catherine Mtonga, she was recognised for her achievements and contributions as first female Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and later as the first female Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Management Division, Cabinet Office.

She is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, medical educator, public-health specialist and distinguished public-service leader with over four decades of experience spanning clinical medicine, health policy, medical education and public administration.

Dr Mtonga also held senior leadership positions as Director of Technical Support Services and Director of Clinical Care and Diagnostic Services at the Central Board of Health.

She has made significant contributions to Zambia’s health sector.

Her work includes supporting the expansion of antiretroviral therapy services; contributing to the development of national HIV/AIDS care and treatment, infection-prevention, maternal and newborn health and post-abortion care guidelines and programmes; and contributing to the establishment of the Cancer Diseases Hospital.

Elisa Mayondi: Advancing oral pathology

The 2026 MWAZ Emerging Leader Award was presented to Dr Elisa Mayondi.

This was in recognition of her demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to serving the health sector and historic achievement as Zambia’s First Oral Pathologist.

Dr Mayondi is a distinguished Zambian dental surgeon, oral pathologist and part-time lecturer whose career reflects a strong commitment to advancing dentistry, oral healthcare, medical education and professional leadership in Zambia.

Outside medicine she is a wife, farmer and mother.

Mpundu Makasa: Strengthening family medicine

The 2026 MWAZ Professional Excellence Award went to Dr Mpundu Makasa for distinguished service, leadership and excellence in family medicine, medical education and primary health care.

She has made an exceptional contribution to the establishment and advancement of Family Medicine in Zambia.

She played a central role in developing the country’s first Master of Medicine in Family Medicine programme in 2013, leading to actual commencement of training in 2019 at the University of Zambia.

She has further contributed to developing a PhD programme in Family Medicine, which has been approved, and is now enrolling the first cohort of PhD candidates in Family Medicine.

Misa Funjika: Recognised for medical leadership

Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) Head of Clinical Care and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Misa Funjika, was honoured with the MWAZ Leadership Award 2026.

The recognition celebrates Dr Funjika’s distinguished leadership, professional excellence and contribution to the advancement of healthcare and the medical profession in Zambia.

Masiku Phiri: Championing women in medicine

The 2026 MWAZ He-for-She Award was presented to Zambia Medical Association president Dr Masiku Phiri.

This was in recognition of Dr Phiri’s outstanding support, advocacy and commitment to women in medicine and the mission of MWAZ.

“Throughout his leadership at ZMA, Dr Phiri has worked closely with the Medical Women’s Association of Zambia, supporting partnership, mentorship and the advancement of women in medicine.

“As a male ally, he exemplifies the principles of He-for-She using his leadership to champion inclusion and equal opportunity in healthcare,” said MWAZ President Dr Joyce Sakala.