Former Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde has died following a long battle with cancer of the Liver.

Dr Kasonde who served as the Minister of Health from October 2011 to 2016, died yesterday at 21:30 in Lusaka, according to State House operated Smart Eagles.

Dr Kasonde graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1966 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree.

He was a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

He thereafter attained his Doctor of Medicine degree by thesis in 1976 from the University of Oxford.

From 1977 to 1984 Dr Kasonde served as Director of Medical Services, combining this position with that of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health of Zambia from 1979.

From 1985 to 1998 he worked for the World Health Organization as Responsible Officer for Research Capacity Strengthening in Developing countries in the Special Programme for Research and Research Training in Human Reproduction.