Dr. Catherine Chunda-Liyoka
Dr. Catherine Chunda-Liyoka is a distinguished pediatrician specializing in hematology and infectious diseases. She holds the dual roles of Consultant Paediatrician and Head of the Pediatric Hematology Department at the University Teaching Hospitals – Children’s Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. In addition to her hospital duties, Dr. Chunda-Liyoka is a dedicated educator and researcher. She serves as an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Zambia and is an Honorary Fellow at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in International Public Health. Her research and programmatic interests span sickle cell disease, pediatric malignancies, HIV, and implementation science—particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Chunda-Liyoka plays a pivotal role in national efforts to improve blood disorder care. She is Chair of the National Sickle Cell Disease Taskforce and National Coordinator for Zambia’s newborn screening program for sickle cell disease. She is also actively involved with networks such as SPARCO, SPAN, CONSA, SickleInAfrica, and the Sickle Cell Ontology Network, contributing to research, training, and policy development across the continent.