Dr. Jelita Chinyonga

Dr. Jelita Chinyonga is a Zambian Medical Doctor and Public Health Specialist dedicated to equitable healthcare access and believes that health services should start with individuals and families in their homes.

Currently Dr. Chinyonga is the Health Advisor, Gender and Social Affairs Division at the COMESA Secretariat (Africa’s largest Regional Economic Community with 21 member states and a population of over 650 million). She leads the operationalization of the health desk, focusing on health systems strengthening and providing technical assistance in primary healthcare programs, through a multisectoral approach

Before joining COMESA, she served as the;

• Director of Performance Improvement, Ministry of Health, Zambia
• Provincial Health Director in two provinces, with a strong focus on primary healthcare and community health

For her outstanding contribution to the community, improving women and children’s health, addressing social determinants of health, including empowering vulnerable communities and institutions she is a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award from the International Rotary.

Throughout her career, Dr. Jelita has been recognised for her incredible key contributions and achievements:

• Leading Person-Centred Care (PCC) initiatives, aimed at improving health outcomes for marginalized communities
• Focusing on community health strategies tailored to underserved populations
• Collaborated with bi- and multi-lateral organizations, NGOs, and civil society to enhance healthcare delivery

An advocate for financial empowerment as a key driver of better health, Dr. Chinyonga believes that a healthy nation is a developing nation. Her extensive education and training include;

• A Degree in Medicine from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences, Santiago de Cuba
• A Master’s in Public Health from the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam
• A Higher Diploma in District Health Management

A qualified facilitator from the Zambia Management Leadership Academy