Elizabeth Chizema Kawesha MD

Dr. Elizabeth Chizema is a medical doctor with a degree in public health with 28 years experience in the health sector and over 20 years of experience directing public health programs. Currently she is the Director National Malaria Elimination Centre, overseeing the Zambia malaria programme. From 2011 to 2016, she was the Director of Disease Surveillance, Control, and Research (formerly the Director of Public Health and Research) at the Zambia Ministry of Health. She served as the Director of Technical Support Services in the Ministry of Health, from 2009 to 2011. She was responsible for overseeing provincial and district health services including hospitals and was responsible for performance assessment and technical support at all service delivery levels. Prior to this, she served as Deputy Director of Public Health and Research, responsible for the National Malaria Control Programmes, in the Zambia Ministry of Health since 2006 until her promotion to the higher position in September 2009.

She also served as District Director of Health in both rural town (Kalulushi District) and a large urban city (Kitwe District). Before moving to Kalulushi, she served as acting Medical Superintendent and acting Deputy Director of hospitals in Ndola under the Ministry of Health, where she completed her residency. Born in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, she received medical doctor degrees from the University of Zambia (1989), an MPH from the University of Pretoria, South Africa as well as a higher diploma in district health management.

She is a member of various boards including National Health Research Authority and National Biosafety Authority. She has also served on the MMV’s APMAC and co-chair of the MACEPA Advisory Board.