Esperance Luvindao
{{Short description|Namibian physician (born 1994)}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dr. Esperance Luvindao
| image =
| caption =
| order =
| office = Minister of Health and Social Services
| president = Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
| term_start = 22 March 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Kalumbi Shangula
| successor =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1994}}
| birth_place = Windhoek, Namibia
| party = SWAPO
| residence = Windhoek
| spouse =
| children =
| education = {{ubl|University of Namibia School of Medicine|Management College of Southern Africa|University of Rochester|University of Cape Town|University of Pretoria}}
| honorific_prefix = Honorable
}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.na/minister-of-health-appointment |title=Esperance Luvindao appointed as Minister of Health |work=Government of Namibia |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=24 March 2025}}
Background and education
Luvindao was born in Namibia in 1994, to parents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite web|url=https://www.adiac-congo.com/content/interview-dr-esperance-luvindao-ma-rencontre-avec-la-premiere-dame-ete-une-experience |title=Interview. Dr Esperance Luvindao: "My meeting with the first lady was a magnificent experience" |work=Adiac-Congo.com |date=24 February 2020 |author=Patrick Ndungidi |access-date=16 February 2022 | location=Kinshasa, DRC |format=Interview}} She attended Maarti Athisaari Primary School in Windhoek before transferring to St Paul's College, where she completed Grade 12.{{cite web |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/a-shining-light-for-her-nation/ |title=A shining light for her nation |work=The Namibian |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=24 March 2025}}
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=
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.{{cite web |url=https://osaatafrica.org/initiatives |title=Osaat Africa Health Foundation Initiatives |work=Osaat Africa |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=24 March 2025}}
She served on the Health Professions Council of Namibia's Disciplinary Board and the Omnicare Trust Board until March 2025.
=Humanitarian work=
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.
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.publichealthafrica.org/speakers/esperance-luvindao |title=Speakers at Public Health Africa Conference |work=Public Health Africa |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=24 March 2025}}
=Other ventures=
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.{{cite web|work=New Era Alive |url=https://neweralive.na/posts/popya-with-dr-esperance-luvindao |title=Popya with Dr Esperance Luvindao - Mastering the art of public speaking |date=14 July 2021 |author=Paheja Siririka |access-date=16 February 2022 |location=Windhoek, Namibia}}
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.{{cite web| work=British Broadcasting Company |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/clm1wxp5pret/namibia | title=Namibian medic awarded for her passion for patients | date=14 February 2022 |author=BBC News |access-date=16 February 2022 |location=London, United Kingdom}}
In 2022, she won second place at the United Nations Young Entrepreneur Awards for her contributions to digital health and women's empowerment.{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/young-entrepreneurs/awards-2022 |title=Young Entrepreneur Awards 2022 |work=United Nations |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=24 March 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.esperanceluvindao.com/ Personal Profile at https://www.esperanceluvindao.com]
- [https://www.africaintelligence.com/the-continent/2025/04/09/senegal-nigeria-namibia,110411125-gra The New Guard], Africa Intelligence, 9 April 2025 (requires free registration)
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Category:Namibian women physicians
Category:University of Namibia alumni
Category:University of Rochester alumni
Category:Management College of Southern Africa alumni
Category:University of Cape Town alumni
Category:University of Pretoria alumni
Category:Namibian beauty pageant winners
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Government ministers of Namibia
Category:Women government ministers of Namibia
Category:21st-century Namibian women politicians
Category:21st-century Namibian politicians