EULOGY OF PROFESSOR JIMMY CHANDIA
Today we celebrate the life of a beloved husband, father, brother, colleague, friend, mentor, family physician, University Professor Jimmy Chandia, who sadly left us on 22 January, 2025.
Jimmy Ariko Chandia was born to Levi Ariko and Louise Obiru on 23 May 1951 in Urugo Village, about 5km west of Arua, North Western Uganda. He did his primary school education at Jiako Primary School and Ombatini Junior Secondary School; and completed his Secondary education at Teso College Aloet.
After high school, he enrolled at Makerere University, where he attained his MBCHB Degree in 1979. Upon completing his internship, Professor Chandia departed for Kenya, where he worked for two years at Lake Nursing Home in Kisumu before moving to South Africa in 1983. He first worked at St. Barnabas Hospital in Libode before joining Umtata General Hospital in November 1988.
As a junior doctor, Professor Chandia’s thirst for knowledge was far from quenched. He embarked on further study, completing a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 1985; followed by a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Witwatersrand in 1988. In 1991 he obtained his Master’s Degree in Family Medicine from the Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa), now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
In 1989 Professor Chandia began teaching at the University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University – WSU), becoming an Associate Professor in 1994. He continued to teach there for 34 years until his retirement in 2023, having had thousands of students under his tutelage.
Professor Chandias commitment and dedication to providing quality healthcare drove him to pursue and achieve multiple higher education qualifications throughout his career. In 2008 he was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in International Primary Health Care by the University of London; and in that same year he reached a career milestone by becoming a Fellow of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. In 2017 he received his Doctorate in Family Medicine from Stellenbosch University; and in 2018 an International Certificate in Research Ethics from a Swiss-based training programme that focuses on research ethics and regulation.
A desire to learn was at the core of Professor Chandias calling as a Medical Practitioner, and as such, he was a Researcher at heart, achieving the following:
Supervised 27 Master of Medicine (MMed) research theses, was published in 10 peer-reviewed journals, five of which were published by mainstream media, was the WSU representative for Collaboration for Health Equity through Education and Research (CHEER) from 2006 to 2015, Pioneered the WSU HIV Vaccine Research Unit, thus putting WSU on the global map for HIV vaccine research. During this period, he delved into an array of HIV-related research projects, was the Principal Investigator at WSUs HIV Vaccine Research Unit from 2006 to 2015, Presented 40 papers at national and international conferences, was a member of the editorial board of the South African Family Practice Journal and He is survived by his wife, Florence; his children, Anthony, Rachel, Jolly, Nancy, Gladys, Margaret, and Beatrice; his eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren; and he joins his daughter Mary in glory.
There will be a Funeral service at St. Paul C.O.U-Okuva (Mbuya) today,06th February 2025 starting 5:00pm.
Another service at Family residence in Anyatiyo Cell in Arua City on Friday,7th February at 3:00pm.
On Saturday,8th February 2025 there will be another Funeral Service at Emmaunel Cathedral-Mvara in Arua City starting 01:00pm.
Burial will take place at Urugbo Primary School on Sunday,09th February 2025 starting with a Funeral service 12:00pm.
Informed are; Relatives, Friends and In-laws.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
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