When Dr Lufunda Lukama walks into a lecture hall or hospital ward, he carries more than just a stethoscope – he carries a story of grit, resilience and remarkable purpose that led him to graduate with a PhD in Otorhinolaryngology (ENT).
Born in the rural missionary settlement of Ibenga in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, Lukama is the third of eight children of two retired schoolteachers. His early years were shaped in the dusty classrooms of Kangwena Basic School in North-Western Province and the unwavering discipline that came from a family devoted to education. A Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines merit scholarship earned him a place at Mpelembe Secondary School in Kitwe, where his academic excellence took root.
In 2003, he entered the University of Zambia on a government “high-flyer” scholarship, focused on pursuing Civil Engineering like his elder brother and mentor, Mr Maseka Lukama. But fate had other plans. Surrounded by a close-knit group of aspiring doctors and supported by family encouragement, he made the life-altering switch to Medicine, setting him on a path that would one day lead to him transforming the face of ENT care in Zambia.
One of the defining moments of his academic life came in 2007 when he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree alongside his brother Dr Kamalata Lukama. Years later, the siblings would share yet another unforgettable moment: both receiving their PhDs from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), a testament to their shared tenacity and excellence.
Lukama’s journey into the world of ENT began during his undergraduate years when he was fascinated by the complex anatomy of the head and neck. However, it wasn’t until Dr Nadia Lukwasa – then Head of the ENT Department – personally selected and mentored him, that he truly found his calling.
Her insight into the lack of ENT specialists in Zambia and the dire consequences of delayed diagnoses made a profound impact. Though other departments, impressed by his academic prowess, vied for his talents, ENT had already claimed him.
In 2015, he enrolled at UKZN’s prestigious postgraduate ENT programme. Four years of intense training and clinical service culminated in him earning both the Master of Medicine (MMed) and the Fellowship of the College of Otorhinolaryngologists of South Africa – FCORL(SA) – in 2019.
Inspired by his PhD supervisors – Professor Colleen Aldous, Professor Chester Kalinda and Professor Charles Michelo – Lukama embarked on his doctoral journey in 2020. Backed by UKZN’s tuition waiver and the Canon Collins Trust RTMF PhD Scholarship, he dived into research that would address critical ENT care deficits in Zambia.
Lukama’s PhD journey was far from smooth. He battled COVID-19 four times – twice teetering on the edge of life – and survived a severe road traffic accident that wrecked his car. The pandemic brought research delays spanning over a year, and pressing family issues required him to pause his studies for seven months, but he pressed on determined to succeed.
All of this unfolded while he was managing an ENT unit responsible for 10.2 million people – half of Zambia’s population – and studying full-time!
Through every setback, his resolve deepened. ‘It has been a path marked by setbacks and strain,’ he reflected, ‘but also by resilience, resolve and lots of fun.’
Now, with a PhD in Medicine, he stands as one of Zambia’s foremost ENT experts and a voice for equitable health access. Lukama’s thesis provides a sobering national overview of ENT service delivery in Zambia.
Through a scoping review, hospital surveys, and patient data analysis, his research revealed:
– Only 5.9% of second-level and 40% of third-level hospitals perform essential ear surgeries
– 67.4% of ENT-related diagnoses by non-specialists were inaccurate
– 50.4% of patient referrals were inappropriate
– Out-of-pocket costs for ENT care remained significantly high
– Short-term training programmes improved frontline healthcare worker knowledge by up to 33%.
‘Zambia’s ENT care system suffers from infrastructure deficits, insufficient training, and high costs, however, targeted investment, workforce expansion and integration into primary healthcare can reshape this landscape,’ he said.
Today, Lukama serves as the Consultant and Head of the Discipline of ENT Surgery at Ndola Teaching Hospital and lectures at both the Copperbelt University and Mulungushi University.
But his ambitions reach further. His mission is clear: to revolutionise ENT care in Zambia by expanding access, training a new generation of ENT professionals and embedding ENT services into the core of the healthcare system. His work is already influencing national ENT strategy and clinical training programmes.
When he’s not healing patients or mentoring students, he’s likely learning to play the piano or guitar, having recently picked up both instruments to feed his lifelong passion for music, his ‘daily rhythm,’ as he calls it.
Lukama credits his successful journey to the unwavering support of his supervisors. He said: ‘They made my doctoral journey easier and enjoyable. They deserve a medal!’
Words: MaryAnn Francis
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini
