The College is a government granted aided training institution through the Zambia’s Ministry of Health, owned and run by the Salvation Army since 1947. It started with training two medical assistants/dressers that graduated from the college in 1950. This was later improved upon in 1952 and started training Enrolled Nurses. In 1966 Enrolled Midwifery training was introduced. The Enrolled Nursing programme was upgraded in 2008 to Registered Nursing while the Enrolled Midwifery was upgraded in 2013 to Registered Midwifery. The college introduced e-Learning training (distance programme) for Registered Nurses in 2015. In September 2018 the college introduced Registered Midwifery programme for pre-service students. Over the years the College has produced many Enrolled Nurses and Midwives; and Registered Nurses and Midwives significantly contributing to the number of health professionals required both in urban and rural areas of Zambia and the world at large.

Chikankata College of Nursing and Midwifery is located in Chikankata District of Southern Province, 31 kilometers (km) away from Lusaka-Livingstone road and 60 km East of Mazabuka town, about 220 km North-East of Choma the Provincial Capital and about 125 km from Lusaka the capital city of Zambia.

Today there are 478 students working towards passing the three year course for registered nurses programmes which are divided into classroom theory and clinical practice. These young, yet dynamic and committed students, combined with a competent administrative support staff has earned the college a ranking and reputation of being one the top Nursing Colleges in Zambia. To date Chikankata College of Nursing and Midwifery has graduated over 2000 nurses who are serving our country within both the private and public health sectors. The College is currently running a three year Registered Nursing programme (regular and e-Learning) with a one year in-service Registered Midwifery programme and a 3 year pre-service Registered Midwifery programme. 

The large part of their training is allocated to their practical in the clinical area of the hospital and other health centres and hospitals within the country that offer specialties that are not offered at Chikankata Mission General Hospital. The upgrading of the qualification level from certificate to a Diploma is also in response to the WHO resolution passed at the 49th World Health Assembly (WHA), where all member states were urged to strengthen Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice (WHO 491). WHO recognized that cost effectiveness of good nursing and midwifery practice makes a major difference to quality and effectiveness of health care service.