Meet the Team

Bridget is a retired GP based in Lothian, where she was a partner for many years, and later worked in Out-of-Hours.  She has an MSc in Education and was undergraduate and postgraduate trainer. More recently she obtained qualifications in tropical medicine and development management. She has worked and volunteered in several African countries including Zambia.

Chola is a registered nurse-midwife who trained in Zambia at Kitwe School of Nursing and later UTH Midwifery School. He worked at Macha Mission Hospital in the southern province, later moved to Luanshya Mine hospital where he worked in maternal and child health services- before migrating to the UK in 2003. He currently works with the elderly at a nursing home as clinical lead, though previously he worked as registered home manager. Chola was born in Chitambo and went to Mabonde primary school before moving to the city where he lived with his sisters. He has a passion for Chitambo: his father was a bricklayer for the (then) new block, and he had the privilege of seeing Jo Vallis’ father, Dr Currie. He looks forward to seeing the facilities and services at the hospital and its related health centres improve through our contributions however the form, whether knowledge, skills or monetary. Together we can.

Annet Dekker is a retired medical doctor from Rotterdam. She worked in Chitambo Hospital as medical officer from 1986 to 1989. After returning to The Netherlands she worked as GP (5 years), consultant in cases of child abuse (16 years) and consultant for intellectual disabilities (12 years). Since retirement (2022) she is active as a volunteer at a local primary school, at the Rotterdam museum for expressionist art by Hendrik Chabot and with her hobby in pottery. In 2024 she revisited Chitambo with her family and became acquainted with FoCH. Now active in the Board and in fundraising activities for Chitambo.

Marion was born in Mwenzo, Northern Zambia where her father was a mission doctor and her mother a nurse. The family later moved to Chitambo where she spent her childhood, and went to boarding school in Lusaka. She trained as a doctor in Edinburgh and worked for six years in Zimbabwe, in Paediatrics. She and her husband Guy emigrated with their two sons to New Zealand in 1993 where Marion retrained in general Practice and Palliative Care. Two return visits to Chitambo in 2003 and 2008 were the inspiration to become involved in supporting Chitambo Hospital. She retired from medical work in 2018. She volunteers in a Red Cross bookshop and is a home tutor for the local English Language school. Marion joined the board of Friends of Chitambo in 2024.

Ida is presently the Mission Partner for Health at The United Church of Zambia Mwandi Mission Hospital and an elected Trustee and Vice Chair of CHAZ. She served for two terms as UCZ Health Secretary from 2015-2022

Jo is founder and Chair of Friends of Chitambo. She is a nurse/nurse teacher and social scientist by background, with over 40 years' experience of health services and health-related work. She has contributed to winning four rounds of UK/Scottish Government grant funds for Global Health projects in Zambia since 2010, and has led three of these to successful completion. Jo grew up in Zambia, at Chitambo, and founded the organisation after returning there in 2003. She is passionate about contributing, with Chitambo partners, to promoting a ‘healthier Chitambo District’.

Levi Chifwaila is a co-founder member and Trustee of Friends of Chitambo. He is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Nurse Tutor, holding Masters and BSc degrees in Nursing Sciences with support from Friends of Chitambo. His training and practice have an emphasis on Maternal and Child Health. Levi was headhunted for the position of Nurse in Charge, Paediatrics, at Chitambo Hospital (2001), and went on to become Nursing Officer in 2004 until 2008. He was instrumental in reopening Chitambo School of Nursing (2012) and was Senior Tutor there for several years before taking up his current post as Senior Tutor at Kabwe School of Nursing, Central Province, Zambia. Levi has vast knowledge and experience of rural and urban healthcare in Zambia and is closely connected with top officials at the Zambian Ministry of Health.

Martin is a Zambian registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He grew up in Chitambo and studied his Diploma in Nursing at Chitambo school of Nursing when Mr. Chifwaila, Co-founder member of Friends of Chitambo was a Tutor there then he later obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Sciences from the University of Zambia. He has worked in the remotest areas of Chitambo District and he’s currently working as a Nurse Tutor at Chitambo College of Nursing

Peter Willett is a Chartered Management Accountant who grew up in South London and spent 12 years in Zambia with his family, working with parastatal and international companies. He lives in the Falkirk area of Scotland.

Richard is Honorary President of Friends of Chitambo.  His main role is to help, support, and offer valuable advice gleaned through his own extensive charitable experience in the field of disability sport and theatre. Following his own transition to ‘disability’ (he is a high-level amputee), he retrained as an Archery Coach and currently leads the field in Scottish disability archery.  He has set up a number of highly successful archery clubs for people with disabilities and is also Honorary President of Lung Ha Theatre company, which he initiated in 1984: http://lungha.com/   Richard brings all this valuable voluntary experience to bear on his role as Honorary President and  Trustee of Friends of Chitambo.