From Zambia to Harvard: How Chimba Sanga Is Fighting HIV and TB With New Skills

May 13, 2026 - 19:53

Chimba Sanga, a physician and public health leader from Zambia, is bringing his Harvard training back home to tackle two of the country's deadliest diseases. Sanga, currently a Master of Public Health candidate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, class of 2026, is focusing on epidemiology to improve care for people living with HIV and tuberculosis.

Before coming to Cambridge, Sanga worked on the front lines of Zambia's health system. He saw how gaps in data and coordination slowed down treatment for patients who needed it most. Now, with advanced training in disease tracking and outbreak analysis, he plans to redesign how clinics collect and use information. His goal is to make sure that every patient gets the right medicine at the right time, and that health workers have the tools to spot trouble early.

Sanga is also known for sharing public health insights on LinkedIn, where he has built a following by breaking down complex research into plain language. He believes that doctors and scientists need to communicate better with the public, especially in countries where misinformation can spread quickly.

Zambia has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, and TB remains a leading killer. Sanga says the two epidemics feed each other, and that fighting them requires both smart policy and grassroots trust. He hopes his work will help cut infection rates and save lives, one clinic at a time.