Esperance Luvindao
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards, as the timeline needs to be clearer. (March 2025) |
Honorable Dr. Esperance Luvindao | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Health and Social Services | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2025 | |
| President | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah |
| Preceded by | Kalumbi Shangula |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1994 (age 30–31) Windhoek, Namibia |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Residence | Windhoek |
| Education |
|
Esperance Luvindao is a Namibian politician, medical doctor, public health advocate and public speaking coach. In March 2025, she was appointed as Namibia's Minister of Health and Social Services.[1]
Background and education
[edit]Luvindao was born in Namibia in 1994, to parents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2] She attended Maarti Athisaari Primary School in Windhoek before transferring to St Paul's College, where she completed Grade 12.[3]
Luvindao obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree from the University of Namibia School of Medicine. She later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) and completed executive and management coaching studies at the University of Cape Town. Before December 2023, she pursued studies at Harvard University. In December 2023, she completed a Diploma in Public Health at the University of Pretoria.
Career
[edit]Luvindao played a key role in Namibia's COVID-19 response as Data Manager for the National Task Force before transitioning into full-time clinical practice. She specialized in gynecology and non-communicable diseases, working at public hospitals under the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
In 2019, she founded Osaat Africa Health Foundation, focusing on women's health education, contraceptive access, and digital health solutions. The foundation launched Menga, a digital platform for medication access in informal settlements, and Emily's Health, a book on women's health published in eight native languages. Luvindao also led the development of a portable sonar probe for fibroid and obstetric assessments in rural areas.[4]
She served on the Health Professions Council of Namibia's Disciplinary Board and the Omnicare Trust Board until March 2025.
Humanitarian work
[edit]Luvindao founded One Step at a Time, a project that has provided medication and medical equipment to over 35,000 Namibians in remote villages. She played a key role in Namibia's vaccine campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continuously advocated for equitable healthcare access.[3]
She won African Humanitarian of the Year (2021) and was nominated for African Speaker of the Year (2021). She has spoken at over 100 international conferences, including TEDx, Gitex Healthcare Innovation (Dubai), and the International Conference on Public Health in Africa.[5]
Other ventures
[edit]Luvindao is a certified executive coach and a specialist in leadership development, AI in healthcare, and public speaking. Until 2024, she directed Speaker's Globe, a public-speaking training institution with students from Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the United States, and beyond.[6]
In February 2022, she won the Commonwealth Points of Light Award for offering 44,000 free online consultations to people across Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, and Rwanda during the coronavirus pandemic.[7]
In 2022, she won second place at the United Nations Young Entrepreneur Awards for her contributions to digital health and women's empowerment.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Esperance Luvindao appointed as Minister of Health". Government of Namibia. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ Patrick Ndungidi (24 February 2020). "Interview. Dr Esperance Luvindao: "My meeting with the first lady was a magnificent experience"" (Interview). Adiac-Congo.com. Kinshasa, DRC. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ a b "A shining light for her nation". The Namibian. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "Osaat Africa Health Foundation Initiatives". Osaat Africa. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "Speakers at Public Health Africa Conference". Public Health Africa. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ Paheja Siririka (14 July 2021). "Popya with Dr Esperance Luvindao - Mastering the art of public speaking". New Era Alive. Windhoek, Namibia. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ BBC News (14 February 2022). "Namibian medic awarded for her passion for patients". British Broadcasting Company. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Young Entrepreneur Awards 2022". United Nations. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
External links
[edit]- 1994 births
- Living people
- Namibian women physicians
- University of Namibia alumni
- University of Rochester alumni
- Management College of Southern Africa alumni
- University of Cape Town alumni
- University of Pretoria alumni
- Namibian beauty pageant winners
- Government ministers of Namibia
- Women government ministers of Namibia
- 21st-century Namibian women politicians
- 21st-century Namibian politicians
- SWAPO politicians
- Women members of the National Assembly (Namibia)
- Members of the National Assembly (Namibia)