CHIME CHISHIMBA
Lusaka
Summary
An experienced and dedicated Nurse Practitioner and certified Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) provider and Trainer of Trainers (ToT) with a strong background in nursing, HIV/TB programming, counseling, and adult education. I bring over 25 years of extensive experience in Various fields of Nursing stemming from inpatient, outpatient and maternity care, supporting integration of health services. I demonstrate strong Leadership and Mentoring skills and possess vast experience in Training healthcare workers, community volunteers, and peer support groups in both clinical and community-based settings. I have advanced expertise in Nurse Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (NIMART) in both adults and Children as well as Provider Initiated Counseling and Testing of HIV (PICT). I hold additional certifications in Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment, GBV, PMTCT, IMCI, to mention but a few. I am Currently pursuing an online course in Global Mental Health with the University of Washington, which is strengthening my ability to deliver context-specific, evidence-based interventions in diverse settings.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
District Nurse Mentor – HIV/TB/Mental Health
Ministry of Health and Social Services/CDC
06.2023 - 03.2025
- Clinical Mentorship & Capacity Building
- Provide onsite mentorship and supportive supervision to nurses, doctors, and lay cadres in HIV/TB and Mental Health services.
- Strengthen healthcare workers’ clinical competencies in ART initiation, monitoring, and differentiated service delivery (DSD).
- Training, ECHO Participation & Continuous Professional Development-Facilitate training sessions and updates on national HIV/TB guidelines, treatment protocols, and data documentation tools. Develop and Deliver Training Curricula:
- Design, adapt, and deliver mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) training content tailored to the needs of adult learners, including healthcare workers, educators, and community-based personnel.
- Support implementation of quality improvement initiatives and strategies in TB/HIV Management and HIV testing (HTS) services using QI models (e.g., PDSA cycles).
- Promote integration of TB, HIV, cervical cancer screening, and non-communicable disease care at facility level.
- Stakeholder Coordination & Community Engagement-Work with community-based partners to strengthen facility-community linkage.
- Submit weekly and monthly reports to District Health Management Team / Regional HIV/TB Coordinator
Facility Nurse In-Charge/ DREAMS Nurse
Ministry of Health and Social Services
01.2020 - 02.2023
- Offer PrEP, PEP, STI treatment, and Family Planning services tailored to adolescents and young women.
- Promote and provide MCH (Maternal and Child Health), EMTCT, and Nutritional Assessment, Counselling, and Support) to pregnant youth (NACS)
- Supervise and support HIV Testing and Counselling services.
- Screen clients for GBV (Gender-Based Violence) and IPV (Intimate Partner Violence), offering emergency contraception, HIV counselling, and referral for long-term psychosocial support.
- Refer survivors to legal, social, and economic services through established networks.
- Conduct index testing, tracing, and service provision per national HIV guidelines.
- Initiate ART for eligible HIV-positive youth and collected necessary laboratory specimens.
- Coordinate community outreach and safe-space interventions (e.g., in schools).
- Implement a bi-directional referral system between health facilities and community programs.
- Prepare and submitted timely weekly and monthly reports.
- Mentor and supervise Community Care Workers (CCWs).
- Promote and enforce COVID-19 prevention measures within youth-friendly service delivery.
- Collaborate closely with clinical mentors to ensure quality service delivery.
- Conduct emergency obstetric deliveries and referred high-risk pregnancies appropriately.
- Implement EMTCT (Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission) activities as per national guidelines.
- Promote Integration of services namely TB/HIV, SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health), and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
- Plan and conduct monthly facility staff meetings.
NIMART Implementer/Dispenser & SRH/CECAP Nurse Mentor
Nkarapamwe Clinic, I-TECH Namibia
06.2018 - 07.2020
- Provided hands-on mentorship and supportive supervision to nurses and clinical staff on cervical cancer screening methods (e.g., VIA, HPV testing) and treatment procedures (e.g., cryotherapy, thermal ablation).
- Monitored and evaluate the quality of cervical cancer services at facilities, ensuring adherence to national guidelines and infection prevention protocols.
- Promoted awareness through health talks, community sensitization, and counselling on the importance of cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination, and early treatment.
- Organized and conducted cervical cancer screening outreaches and campaigns in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Supported HIV counselling and testing services and assesse HIV-positive clients for ART eligibility and initiated eligible clients on ART per national guidelines and offered PrEP/PEP to eligible clients.
- Prescribed and dispensed ARVs and other required medications and monitored treatment outcomes and ensured quality and comprehensive management for all adults and children with HIV.
- Supported integration of TB/HIV, SRH activities, and management of non-communicable diseases and implement EMTCT in line with national guidelines.
- Participated in monthly meetings and weekly Echo sessions and applied quality improvement methodologies to enhance service delivery.
Nurse in Charge – TB Ward
Ministry of Health and Social Services/Global Fund
07.2017 - 05.2018
- Supervised daily nursing care and clinical activities in the TB ward to ensure quality patient management.
- Monitored and evaluated the implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, including isolation protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Provided mentorship and on-the-job training to junior nurses and student nurses on TB case management and documentation.
- Conducted routine ward rounds with the medical team to assess patient progress and update treatment plans.
- Ensured consistent availability of TB medications, supplies, and protective gear by liaising with pharmacy and logistics departments.
- Maintained accurate patient records, treatment registers, and monthly reports in accordance with the National TB Program guidelines.
- Participated in multidisciplinary meetings and contributed to quality improvement initiatives in TB care and treatment.
Facility Nurse in Charge
Ministry of Health and Social Services
12.2014 - 07.2016
- Conduct health education sessions on hygiene, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, immunizations, and non-communicable diseases.
- Promote maternal and child health, family planning, and adolescent health and participate in outreach programs and mobile clinic services to reach remote communities.
- Provide diagnosis and treatment for common illnesses (malaria, diarrhea, RTIs, etc.) and monitor treatment of chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and epilepsy.
- Provide HIV counselling and testing (HTS) and Conduct index testing, partner notification, and community tracing.
- Initiate and monitor ART and TB treatment adherence.
- Submit monthly reports to the District Health Office.
- Provide first aid and stabilization in emergencies (e.g. snake bites, trauma, acute illness).
- Collaborate with community health workers (CHWs) and traditional birth attendants (TBAs).
Hospital Night Superintendent
Ministry of Health
03.2013 - 11.2014
- Oversaw the smooth functioning of all hospital wards and departments during the night shift.
- Capacitated staff on night duty to respond to medical or surgical emergencies in collaboration with doctors on call.
- Coordinated and Supervised all staff on duty at night and provided guidance and clinical support to junior staff or new nurses on night duty.
- Respond to medical or surgical emergencies in collaboration with doctors on call.
- Make routine rounds in all departments to ensure quality care is being delivered.
- Documentation and Reporting-Maintain detailed records of night shift activities, including admissions, discharges, deaths, and critical incidents.
- Resource and Inventory Management-Ensure availability of essential supplies, medications, and equipment during the night.
- Infection Prevention and Control-Ensure staff compliance with infection prevention protocols and hygiene practices during the night shift.
- Liaise with security personnel to maintain safety of staff, patients, and hospital property at night.
Maternal and Child Health Services/Occupational Health Nurse
Ministry of Mines
01.2011 - 02.2013
- Provided antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care to pregnant women (employees or dependents).
- Provided PMTCT services and link HIV-positive mothers to ART programs.
- Provided immediate newborn care and resuscitation if necessary.
- Conducted pre-employment, periodic, and exit medical examinations for miners and support staff.
- Provided first aid and emergency care for work-related accidents (e.g. burns, fractures, chemical exposures).and refer serious cases to appropriate health facilities.
- Educated workers on health and safety policies, ergonomics, PPE use, and wellness.
- Promoted disease prevention campaigns (e.g. malaria, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes).
Care Assistant / Carer
Rosewood House Nursing Home
06.2007 - 07.2010
- Assisted residents with daily hygiene routines including bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming. Served meals and assisted residents with eating and drinking.
- Monitored fluid and food intake, especially for residents with dietary needs or at risk of malnutrition.
- Emotional and Social Support
- Provided companionship and emotional reassurance to residents.
- Assisted with recreational activities and encouraged participation in social programs.
- Supported end-of-life care with empathy and respect for dignity and cultural practices.
- Provided mobility assistance, including transferring residents using hoists and other aids.
- Administered prescribed medication under supervision and documented accurately.
Registered Nurse/Midwife
Ministry of Defense
04.2003 - 03.2007
- Worked with HIV/AIDS programs within the ZAF, including PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission).
- Maintained accurate maternity records, delivery logs, and registers according to military and Ministry of Health (MOH) standards.
- Provided antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care to pregnant servicewomen, spouses of military personnel, and civilians in designated military catchment areas.
- Conducted normal deliveries and assist with obstetric emergencies in coordination with military medical officers.
- Offered counselling and provision of family planning methods, including oral contraceptives, injectables, IUDs, and condoms.
- Conducted health talks and outreach in military camps and surrounding communities on safe pregnancy, HIV/STI prevention, breastfeeding, and nutrition.
Maternity Special Observation Unit Nurse (SOU)
Ministry of Health
09.2000 - 04.2003
- Recognized and responded to clinical deterioration such as eclampsia, severe sepsis, postpartum hemorrhage, or cardiac issues.
- Managed patients with pre-existing conditions worsened by pregnancy (e.g., cardiac disease, renal failure, HIV complications).
- Assisted in or performed emergency obstetric procedures, including stabilization for urgent caesarean sections or manual removal of placenta.
- Provided advanced maternal resuscitation in cardiac arrest or severe hemorrhagic shock.
- Ensured safe patient transfers between maternity, theatre, and ICU units.
- Offered psychological support to critically ill mothers and families coping with trauma or poor outcomes.
Nurse in Charge – Medical/Surgical Ward
Ministry of Health
06.1995 - 06.1999
- Ensured adherence to pre- and post-operative care guidelines.
- Ensured safe medication administration.
- Organize and Participate in ward rounds and implemented medical directives.
- Conduct monthly ward meetings and feedback sessions.
- Maintain stock control and order medical supplies.
- Supervise and mentor students and junior staff.
- Organize staff and coordinate workloads.
Education
Diploma - Registered General Nursing
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka School of Nursing
07.1995
Certificate - Midwifery
University Teaching Hospital, School of Midwifery
07.2000
Grade 12 GCE School Certificate - undefined
St. Mary’s Secondary School
12.1991
Skills
- Nursing and Midwifery Nursing skills
- Mental Health (Trainer of Trainers) and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
- Curriculum Development and Capacity building
- Leadership and Program Implementation
- Data Collection and Monitoring
- Quality Improvement, Patient Safety and Health Education
- Mentorship, Supervision and Group Facilitation
- Nurse Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (NIMART)/Clinical management of HIV/TB and Adherence Support for both Adults and Paediatrics
- Provider Initiated Counselling and Testing of HIV(PICT) and Index Contact Tracing (ICT)
- Clinical Management of Gender-Based Violence(GBV)
- Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Implementation
- Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening and diagnosis: Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid(VIA) and Cryotherapy
- Life Saving Skills and Management of Childhood illnesses (IMCI)
- Sexual reproductive Health and Family Planning Counselling and Method Provision
Accomplishments
- Mentored healthcare workers (HCWs) on the HIV continuum of care, improving patient outcomes and significantly improving the retention rate to 98% in Hardap region, Namibia.
- Trained HCWs on mental health screening in HIV service settings and successfully led the rollout of a district-wide mental health program in Hardap region.
- Achieved 100% compliance during the SIMS (Site Improvement through Monitoring System) assessment conducted in November 2022 at Choi Clinic, Kongola, under the DREAMS Project.
- Played a pivotal role in organizing and participating in the Medipark Cancer Awareness Campaign, which was held at Nkurenkuru Health Centre (25 October 2019) and at Rundu State Hospital (5–6 December 2019), contributing to a team that received formal recognition.
- Led the Nkarapamwe Clinic team as QI Focal Person in the NamLive Collaborative Project, becoming the first site to exceed 90% performance in the TPT (Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy) initiation indicator (Aug 2018 – Sept 2019).
- Certified in VIA/Thermocoagulation; conducted the first 500 cervical cancer screenings/treatments procedures across four districts in three months, (Rundu, Nankudu, Nkurenkuru, and Nyangana, Namibia) which increased awareness.
- Initiated and developed the first three Community Adherence Clubs (CAGS) at Nkarapamwe Clinic which actively completed the first ART pickup which contributed to a reduction in the congestion of the clinic. (April-August 2019)
- Designed and implemented QI strategies to improve early infant diagnosis retention of which 80% of HIV-exposed infants were successfully traced and brought back to care. (Sept–Dec 2019).
- Developed and executed maternal health QI strategies at Tsumkwe Clinic in Grootfontein to prevent maternal mortality and improve maternal outcomes (Dec 2014 – July 2016).
Affiliations
- Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ) – Registered since 18th September 1995
- Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) – Registered since 28th August 2015
Certification
- Global Mental Health (Course Ongoing: June–Aug 2025) – University of Washington
- Certified – Breast Cancer Early Detection and Referral (July 2025) – BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH)
- Certified – Introduction to Common Cancers in the Community (Jan 2025) – BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH)
- Certified – Training of Health Care Workers in PMTCT (Oct 2024) – Windhoek, Namibia
- Certified – Paediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS (PENTA) Child Health Research- (July 2024). Windhoek, Namibia
- Certified – Trainer of Trainers in Mental Health Screening Tools in HIV Setting - July 2023. Okahandja, Namibia
- Certified – Management of Key Populations- Sept 2022. Katima Mulilo, Namibia
- Certified – GBV Management- April 2021. Ondangwa, Namibia.
- Certified – Family Planning-Nov 2020. Rundu, Namibia. Certificate yet to be issued.
- Certified – Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT)- Nov 2020. Rundu, Namibia
- Certified – VIA and Cryotherapy (VIAC)- May 2019. Katima Mulilo, Namibia
- Certified – Community Adherence Clubs(CAC) Implementation. Nov 2020
- Certified – Management of Opportunistic Infections- Oct 2018. Rundu, Namibia
- Certified – Improvement Capability, Leadership, Patient Safety, and Patient & Family-Centered Care- Mar 2018. Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston, USA
- Certified – Clinical Management of HIV. Mar 2018. University of Washington, USA
- Certified – Management of Tuberculosis -Feb 2016. Outjo, Namibia
- Certified – Nurse-Initiated Management of ART (NIMART)- Oct 2015. Windhoek, Namibia
- Certified – Provider-Initiated Counselling and Testing (PICT)-Aug 2015. Otjiwarongo, Namibia
- Certified – Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT)-May 2014. Lusaka, Zambia
- Certified – Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI)-Nov 2013. Lusaka, Zambia
- Certified – Psychosocial Counselling and HIV Testing -Mar 2013. Chililabombwe, Zambia
- Certified – Life Saving Skills -Feb 2003. Lusaka, Zambia
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Bemba
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Timeline
District Nurse Mentor – HIV/TB/Mental Health
Ministry of Health and Social Services/CDC
06.2023 - 03.2025
Facility Nurse In-Charge/ DREAMS Nurse
Ministry of Health and Social Services
01.2020 - 02.2023
NIMART Implementer/Dispenser & SRH/CECAP Nurse Mentor
Nkarapamwe Clinic, I-TECH Namibia
06.2018 - 07.2020
Nurse in Charge – TB Ward
Ministry of Health and Social Services/Global Fund
07.2017 - 05.2018
Facility Nurse in Charge
Ministry of Health and Social Services
12.2014 - 07.2016
Hospital Night Superintendent
Ministry of Health
03.2013 - 11.2014
Maternal and Child Health Services/Occupational Health Nurse
Ministry of Mines
01.2011 - 02.2013
Care Assistant / Carer
Rosewood House Nursing Home
06.2007 - 07.2010
Registered Nurse/Midwife
Ministry of Defense
04.2003 - 03.2007
Maternity Special Observation Unit Nurse (SOU)
Ministry of Health
09.2000 - 04.2003
Nurse in Charge – Medical/Surgical Ward
Ministry of Health
06.1995 - 06.1999
Certificate - Midwifery
University Teaching Hospital, School of Midwifery
Grade 12 GCE School Certificate - undefined
St. Mary’s Secondary School
Diploma - Registered General Nursing
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka School of Nursing
References
Taimi, Shoombe, District PHC Supervisor, +264 811281936, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Grootfontein, Namibia, Grootfontein State Hospital