PATRICIA MUPETA BOBO

• Represent Zambia in bilateral and multilateral dialogue on Global Health issues
• Participate in negotiations such as the on-going negotiations for a WHO coordinated International Instrument on Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response; and the WHO Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005);
• Confer regularly with Zambia’s global partners such as the WHO, UNAIDS, Gavi and Global Fund.

• Led and managed the Department of Public Health and Research which comprises over 60 staff in the Department’s five units: (1) Reproductive and Maternal Health; (2) Child Health & Nutrition; (3) Adolescent Health; (4) Communicable Diseases (HIV/TB/STIs/Viral Hepatitis/ Neglected Tropical Diseases) and (5) Community Health (including Primary Health Care)
• Major responsibilities: policy formulation; strategic planning and implementation; capacity building and mentorship; monitoring and evaluation of programmes; partner engagement; resource mobilization;

Major Achievement(s):

• Was head of the immunization cluster when Zambia reached and exceeded the 70% of eligible population vaccinated against COVID-19.

• Managed teams in the Unit Programmes: (1) Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI); (2) Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI); (3) Nutrition
• Major responsibilities: Policy formulation; Strategic Planning and Implementation; Development of Guidelines; Capacity Building; Monitoring and evaluation; Partner Engagement; Resource Mobilisation.

Major Achievements:

• Formed the first ever National Nutrition Technical Working Group and became its first chairperson
• Added the ‘height for age curve’ on the Children’s Under-5 cards (official clinic cards)
• Was part of the introduction of the following vaccines: Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV), HPV Vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccines in Zambia
• Was Instant Manager for the Polio Response in 2018 and 2022, respectively, and contributed to the containment of its spread
• Introduced fixed dates for the biannual Child Health Week on the Ministry of Health Calendar
• Lobbied for the inclusion of details of perinatal causes of death in the weekly Ministry of Health submissions
• Coordinated the development of guidelines for the provision of Essential Public Health Interventions during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

• Coordinated the Maternal and Child Health Section in the School of Public Health
• Lecturing of Master of Public Health Students
• Participated in the Specialty Training Programme (STP) of students of Paediatrics and Child Health under the Zambia Colleges of Medicine and Surgery (ZACOMS) at the University Teaching Hospitals’ Children’s Hospital.

• Coordinated official meetings of the Ministry of Health and Organisations such as COMESA, the World Health Organisation and United Nations General Assembly
• Was one of the team members of the team that represented the Ministry of Health on Programme Budget and Administration Committee (PBAC) and Executive Board of the World Health Organisation when Zambia was a member between 2018 and 2020

Major Achievement(s):

• Successfully spearheaded a resolution on cholera control which was later adopted by the World Health Assembly.
• Successfully coordinated Zambia's participation in major international events including the World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly.

• Served as an approachable resource for patients' families, addressing concerns and providing education on medical conditions and treatments.
• Working with Consultants and other team members, developed comprehensive treatment plans for patients with chronic conditions, promoting overall health and wellbeing.
• Mentored junior medical staff members through hands-on training sessions, reinforcing key concepts and guiding their professional growth.
• Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current with advances in medicine and enhance clinical skills.
• Served as focal point for Adolescent Health for the Children's Hospital (then Department of Paediatrics).

• Was overall lead of the technical team and in-charge of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects aimed at preventing, mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and paediatric HIV, working in close collaboration with other stakeholders including the Ministry of Health
• Major Achievement(s):
• Advocated for the introduction of point of care diagnostics for syphilis in pregnant mothers to protect children against congenital syphilis

• Was lead of the technical team comprising (1) Clinical Care; (2) Laboratory; (3) Pharmaceutical services and (4) Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Major responsibilities: planning and coordination; capacity building and mentorship; regular engagements with Ministry of Health.

Major Achievements:

• Was part of the team that installed the first PCR machine at the Arthur Davidson's Children's Hospital (ADCH)
• Part of the team that facilitated the construction of the ART Clinic at ADCH.

• Coordinated the day to day administrative activities of the Institution.
• Spearheaded the development of strategic and work plans for the Institution.