Tue, 09 May 2017 12:31:58 +0000
ZAMBIA yesterday put to rest one of its finest sons and an epitome of service and sacrifice to one’s country.
Professor Rodrick Chifumbe Chintu, 82, died at his ‘‘clinic’’ – the University Teaching Hospital which he founded, nurtured and developed into one of the finest medical centres and teaching hospitals in Southern Africa.
No book, never mind how long, can do justice to the legacy, commitment and humanity of this giant on the African medical scene with the humility and simplicity of a child. No wonder he dedicated his life to the welfare of children.
Hundreds of heart-broken medical professionals, many of them his protégé, politicians of all shapes and opinion, Government officials, business leaders, the common man – many of whom he plucked from certain death – filled the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross and escorted the cortege of Professor Chintu to his last resting place to pay homage to this extraordinary man.
What a befitting irony that one of his former students Chitalu Chilufya, now the Minister of Health, was the one who eulogized his mentor in a moving tribute that had everyone spellbound.
As Dr Chilufya put it Government is committed to improving the medical profession and healthcare in general to protect the legacy of Prof Chintu whom he described as the father of paediatrics and child heath in Zambia.
Prof Chintu will be best remembered for his passion to extend the frontiers of medicine in Zambia, his commitment to diagnose the medical challenges of his patients, treat them himself and ensure they get better.
How many of today’s Zambian doctors have the time or patience to strip or to open a patient’s mouth to look inside and find a medical sign that might unlock the mystery of what could be wrong with him or her? Pride and prejudice are what rules the medical profession today. Not this man.
Prof Chintu is credited with raising the standards of medicine in Zambia through sheer hard work, research, practice and ethical proficiency. His determination to provide quality healthcare to both the high and low, regardless of their social status, was the epitome of his medical practice and humanity.
Although a highly learned man and respected practitioner, Prof Chintu was ever searching for new knowledge to expand his own medical horizons and push the Zambian medical profession to new frontiers of excellence. A book worm, the professor was always ready to impart his immense knowledge to others so that they too could use it to help others in medical need.
As Dr Chilufya said Prof Chintu was indeed a guru of paediatrics and haematology who was respected the world over. He could have used this rare achievement to amass wealth for himself through foreign practice, lecturing at the world’s best medical schools or establish his own university teaching hospital.
Not Chifumbe Chintu. He loved to wallow in the ungracious sanitary conditions of the often congested UTH wards to help his fellow citizens. His love for sick children was incomparable and used it to save thousands of lives as he corrected their medical complications and gave them a new lease of life and future.
To those hundreds of Zambian doctors who benefited from his wisdom, great knowledge and dedication to the profession, the best they can mourn this wonderful man is to emulate his medical skills, hard work, integrity and unequalled ethical conduct that have made him the renowned professional he was.
As first republican president KK put it, Prof Chintu was a dedicated servant of the people who valued his privileged heritage and used it to develop his own country.
Professor Rodrick Chifumbe Chintu was indeed an extraordinary man.
