What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 16:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 16:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 16:00 Thursday 08:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 16:00 Friday 08:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 16:00 Saturday 08:00 - 12:30

Pendleton Childrens Clinic

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Zambia
Lusaka
Pendleton Childrens Clinic

Pendleton is an out-patient specialist children's clinic providing evidence based medicine by Paediatricians to children from 1 day old to 16 years of age.
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Pendleton Family Practice (Formally Pendleton Health Care Clinic) has been providing quality outpatient medical care in Zambia since 1984. From inception, it has been fully owned and run by Zambian doctors with years of experience in both the public and private health sectors. Over the years, the clinical focus shifted from family medicine to exclusively providing specialist services in Paediatrics and Child Health. This entails providing quality outpatient treatment and care to children 16 years and under. The management team has a deep understanding of its diverse clientele’s health needs and has adapted its service delivery to suit the prevailing health and socio economic environment in Zambia. We pride ourselves in delivering high quality evidence based medical services in a very child friendly environment. Parents and caregivers are given 20-40minute appointments to consult with our doctors and 10minute appointments with our nurses for the UnderFive clinics. In so doing, we give each patient dedicated time to understand their health needs in a non-rushed manner without compromising on the quality of care. Ultimately, this helps to reduce patient waiting times by ensuring children are seen a their appointment times.

26/02/2026

UNDERSTANDING THE THYROID PANEL IN CHILDREN 🩺

Your child’s thyroid is a small gland with a big job. It helps control growth, brain development, energy, metabolism, mood, heart rate, and body temperature. When it is not working properly, it can affect how a child feels, learns and grows.

A thyroid panel is a blood test that checks how well the thyroid is working. In newborns, thyroid function may also be checked soon after birth as part of a heel-prick newborn screening test (Newborn screening programs vary by country).

What does a thyroid panel measure?
• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) – tells the thyroid how hard to work
• T4 (Thyroxine) – the main hormone made by the thyroid
• T3 (Triiodothyronine) – the active thyroid hormone
• Sometimes thyroid antibodies – to check for autoimmune thyroid disease

Why is it important?
A thyroid panel can help detect an underactive or overative thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in children:
• Tiredness / low energy
• Weight gain
• Feeling cold easily
• Dry skin / hair thinning
• Constipation
• Low mood
• Poor concentration or school performance
• Slow growth / delayed puberty
• Heavy or irregular periods in adolescents

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) in children:
• Weight loss (sometimes with increased appetite)
• Fast heartbeat / palpitations
• Heat intolerance / sweating
• Anxiety / irritability
• Shaky hands (tremor)
• Trouble sleeping
• Frequent stools
• Weakness / tiredness
• Poor concentration / change in school performance

Who should test?
✔ Unexplained weight changes
✔ Constant tiredness or weakness
✔ Hair loss or dry skin
✔ Mood changes (anxiety/depression)
✔ Feeling too hot or too cold
✔ Poor growth or delayed puberty
✔ Family history of thyroid disease

💡 Early testing = early diagnosis = early treatment = better growth, learning and development!

23/02/2026

💩👖 What is Soiling (Encopresis/faecal incontinence)?

Soiling happens when a child who was previously toilet trained starts passing stool in their underwear. It can be shocking and frustrating—but here’s the most important thing to know: your child is not doing it on purpose and usually can’t control it (and spanking will not help). ❤️

✅ The most common cause is chronic constipation. (Only very rarely can it be linked to nerve-related problems around the bowel/anal area)

Here’s what’s really going on inside the body 👇
When stool reaches the re**um, it stretches it—and that stretch normally triggers the “I need to go!” feeling. But if a child holds it in (often because it hurts or they’re avoiding the toilet):
1. More stool builds up and stretches the re**um more and more
2. Over time, the re**um becomes “used to” being stretched
3. The urge to p**p becomes weaker, so the child may go many days without passing stool
4. The stool becomes large, dry, and painful to pass—so they avoid it even more 😣
5. Then newer, softer stool has nowhere to go… so it leaks around the hard stool, causing soiling

The emotional side matters too! Soiling can cause embarrassment for the child and stress for parents. Patience, support and a clear plan make a big difference. Sometimes triggers include changes in routine, diet, school, friendships or family circumstances.

👩‍⚕️ If your child is experiencing soiling/encopresis, speak to your paediatrician. With the right management, most children improve very well.

20/02/2026

Vitamin C & Coryza (Common cold) in Children 🍊🤧

A common cold (“coryza”) is usually caused by a virus—so most colds get better on their own with time, rest, fluids and good nutrition.

So… does vitamin C stop a cold?
Vitamin C is important for normal immune function as part of a healthy diet. It helps protect cells from damage (antioxidant effect) and supports the body’s natural defences, including producing antibodies that help the body resist harmful germs.

What the evidence says:
✅ Vitamin C supplements may slightly reduce how long symptoms last or how severe they feel for some children.
❌ They do not prevent children from catching a cold in the first place.
❌ They also cannot prevent or cure serious respiratory infections like whooping cough or RSV.

Food first! 🌿
Most healthy kids don’t need supplements if they eat a variety of foods. Great vitamin C options: guava, oranges, mango, pawpaw, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, green & red peppers, tomatoes and leafy greens.

When to be careful with supplements:
Supplements aren’t regulated like prescription medicines, and high doses can cause side effects—so chat to your paediatrician before starting one.

Remember: Most colds are viral—antibiotics are not needed unless your Health Care Provider advises.

17/02/2026

Undescended Te**is (Cryptorchidism): a quick guide for parents!

Before birth, a baby boy’s te**es develop inside the tummy and usually move down into the scrotal area near the end of pregnancy (or soon after). If one or both aren’t in the sc***um, this is called undescended te**is.

How common is it?
• About 1–3% of full-term boys are born with this.
• It’s more common in premature babies—around 30% in low birthweight babies (

14/02/2026

Twice a year in Zambia, children aged 1–5 years are offered Vitamin A and deworming as a public health programme. Why? Because many children don’t get enough vitamin A from diet alone, and intestinal worms are common — both can quietly affect growth, learning, and wellbeing.

Why Vitamin A matters: Vitamin A helps children see well in dim light and keeps the eyes healthy. When a child is deficient, early signs can include poor night vision. If it becomes severe, it can lead to dry, damaged eyes and even permanent blindness. It can also make children more likely to get sick and recover more slowly.

Why deworming matters: Worms live in the gut and “steal” nutrients. Deworming helps reduce worm load, which can support better appetite, better growth, and improved energy — especially in children who are undernourished.

The benefits of giving both together every 6 months:
✅ helps protect eyesight (including night vision)
✅ supports stronger overall health and fewer serious complications in at-risk communities
✅ supports growth and nutrition by reducing worms in the gut

At Pendleton Children's Clinic, we encourage parents to keep the under-five card updated and ask at each visit whether your child is due for their 6-monthly dose. Small steps, big protection.

13/02/2026

A modern healthcare destination offering comprehensive medical and wellness services in a serene, restorative environment.

09/02/2026

BEDWETTING - What parents need to know!

Bedwetting (also called nocturnal enuresis) is when a child wets the bed while asleep, and it’s way more common than many families think.

How common is it?

* Around 15–20% of 5-year-olds still wet the bed.
* About 10% of 7year olds.
* About 4% of 11year olds.
* About 1% of 16year olds.

And the encouraging bit - Most children become dry at night between 3 and 5 years of age and around 15% of children dealing with bedwetting become dry without any treatment.

Why does it happen?

Bedwetting is not laziness and it’s not caused by emotional problems. Often, children are deep sleepers, have a smaller bladder, and it can run in families.

What you can do at home

✅ Keep it calm: no punishment or shaming.
✅ Make night-time toileting easier: a night light, potty nearby, and a reminder to get up if they wake.
✅ Check constipation: treating it can sometimes reduce bedwetting.
✅ For motivated older kids, a bedwetting alarm can help teach self-waking and has one of the best success rates.

When to check in with a Health Care Provider: If there’s pain or burning when passing urine, daytime wetting, or there is no improvement after trying a plan for a few months. If your child is older than 6years and you have tried remedies at home but you are still having bedwetting, call our clinic and schedule an appointment with one of our paediatricians. We are here to help!

05/02/2026

💉⚠️ Lump after a vaccine? Here’s what you should know.

A vaccine abscess is a small, local collection of pus that can form where a vaccine was injected. It may look scary, but the good news is: it’s uncommon and usually treatable.

Why can it happen?
A vaccine abscess may be due to:
🦠 A bacterial infection introduced during or after the injection
🧪 A “sterile abscess” reaction to certain vaccine ingredients— not caused by bacteria

Signs to look out for 👀
✅ Swelling and redness at the injection site
✅ Pain or tenderness
✅ A soft/fluctuant lump (may sometimes discharge pus)
✅ Occasionally a mild fever

What should you do? 🩺
If you notice these signs, bring your child to the clinic for assessment. Treatment may include drainage and/or antibiotics, depending on the cause.

How to help prevent it ✅
✨ Vaccines should be given by trained health workers using sterile technique
🚫 Don’t massage the injection site or apply “home remedies”/substances
🧼 Keep the area clean and dry

🌍 Reminder:
* Vaccine abscesses are rare compared to the millions of safe injections given daily.
* Vaccines remain one of the best ways to protect children from serious illness.

02/02/2026

🌬️ Spirometry (Lung Function Test) in Kids & Adults

Spirometry is the most common lung breathing test. It measures:
• How much air you can breathe in and out, and
• How fast and how easily you can blow air out of your lungs.

Your doctor may recommend spirometry if you or your child has:
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• A long-lasting cough

It helps us diagnose and monitor lung problems like asthma, COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, check breathing before some surgeries, and see if inhalers/medicines are working (and whether the condition is improving or worsening). We can also use exercise testing to assess exercise-induced asthma.

✅ Who can do it?
Children who can follow instructions, usually from 4–5 years old and adults.

👩‍⚕️ What to expect (simple steps):
1. A small clip is placed on the nose
2. You/your child takes a deep breath in
3. Then blows as hard and as long as possible into a tube
4. The technician guides and encourages throughout
5. The machine records the results
6. The test is repeated a few times to make sure results are accurate

📝 How to prepare:
• You may be asked to pause certain inhalers/medicines (especially “reliever” inhalers like Ventolin/Venteze/Asthalin for 6–8 hours, if possible)
• Wear loose clothing
• Avoid a big meal before the test

Finally, spirometry is a painless test, so there’s no need to worry. For more enquiries and to book an appointment, call our reception on 0955/0965/0979-390003 and 07779791719.

30/01/2026

Last weekend, Dr Marsden had the privilege of chairing the Extraordinary Annual General Meeting of the Zambia Association of Private Hospitals (ZAPH).

The meeting marked an important step forward for the Association, with two key outcomes:

1. The ZAPH Constitution was reviewed and updated to reflect changing times and align with international best practice.
2. A new Executive Committee (ExCom) was elected.

We congratulate the newly elected ExCom, led by President Dr Colin West, Medical Director, Medland Hospital, and look forward to the team steering ZAPH to even greater heights as the Association continues to strengthen its impact and advocacy.

As an outgoing ExCom member, Dr Marsden shared the following message with the outgoing team: “Team ExCom, thank you for your perseverance, loyalty and teamwork through some very challenging years. Because of our commitment, we didn’t just survive; we stayed afloat, remained credible, and kept our voice present when it mattered most. I’m genuinely proud of what we held together as a team, and deeply grateful for each of you.”

28/01/2026

🛡️ Protect her future—HPV vaccination saves lives.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month! Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), and it makes up the biggest share of HPV-related cancers in women (about 80%).

In Zambia, cervical cancer isn’t “rare” — it’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer. In 2022 there were an estimated 3,640 new cases, making up 23.8% of all new cancers nationwide, ahead of Kaposi sarcoma, prostate and breast cancer. That’s why the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination strategy includes HPV vaccination as a key pillar (alongside screening and treatment).

The good news: the HPV vaccine trains the immune system to recognise and fight the HPV strains most likely to cause cancer. It has been monitored since 2006 and is proven safe and effective; mild arm soreness/redness is the most common side effect.

In Zambia, the HPV vaccine has been on the national schedule since 2019. Girls aged 9–14 years need 2 doses, 6–12 months apart. Best protection is before exposure—so don’t wait. If your daughter is 9–14, now is the perfect time. Ask our team your questions, and we’ll help plan both doses smoothly.

Bring your daughter to Pendleton and let’s take a stand against cervical cancer together. 💚

26/01/2026

🍯⚠️ SWEET BUT DANGEROUS: Why babies under 1 shouldn’t have honey

Honey might be natural and tasty — but for babies under 12 months, it can be unsafe.

Why is honey risky for infants?
Honey can sometimes contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism (rare, but serious). A baby’s gut is still developing, so it may not be able to stop these spores from growing and producing a toxin that affects the nerves and muscles.

Signs of infant botulism to watch for 👀
🚩 Constipation (often the first sign)
🚩 Weak cry
🚩 Poor feeding or sucking
🚩 Floppy/weak muscles
🚩 Drooling or trouble swallowing
🚩 Breathing difficulties (in severe cases)

Keep your baby safe ✅
👶 No honey — raw, cooked or baked in foods — until your child turns 1 year old
🚫 Avoid honey-based cough syrups or “home remedies” for infants
📣 Spread the word — many caregivers still don’t know this!

Your baby doesn’t need honey to be sweet… love, milk and cuddles are more than enough!

Address

7 Chituli Road, Off Sibweni Road, Northmead
Lusaka
10101

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 12:30
	13:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 12:30
	13:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 12:30
	13:00 - 16:00
Thursday	08:00 - 12:30
	13:00 - 16:00
Friday	08:00 - 12:30
	13:00 - 16:00
Saturday	08:00 - 12:30

Telephone

+260979390003

Website

http://www.pendleton.clinic/

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Our Story

Pendleton Family Practice is one of the first private clinics to be established in Zambia. Formally called Pendleton Health Care Clinic, it has been providing quality medical outpatient treatment and care for over 35 years. From inception, it has been fully owned and run by Zambian doctors with years of experience in both the public and private health sectors.

Over the years, the focus of the clinic has shifted from General Medicine to specialist primary health care services in Paediatrics and Child Health. This entails the provision of quality outpatient treatment and care for children under the age of 16 years. The management team has a deep understanding of its clientele’s health needs and has adapted its service delivery to suit the prevailing health and socio economic environment in Zambia.

The clinic strives to provide the best evidence based primary health care services for children. Our staff are ensure that patients and their caregivers are cared for in a happy and child friendly environment. Parents are given enough time to consult and discuss with our doctors and nurses so that they fully understand their child's ailments or health issues. Patients are seen by appointment for all services provided within the clinic. In so doing, we give each patient individualised and dedicated care in a timely and efficient manner without compromising on the quality of care and ultimately reducing patient waiting times.