Namibia is entering a new era in healthcare with the appointment of Dr. Esperance Luvindao as Minister of Health and Social Services. Appointed on March 22 by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, she joins a renewed government full of promises and reforms. Previously, she has also been appointed as a Member of Parliament by the President, in accordance with the country’s Constitution, which allows the President of Namibia to appoint eight MPs in addition to those who were elected.
At 34 years old, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, alongside Emma Theofelus, 29, who has been reappointed as Minister of Information and Communication Technology, are the two youngest ministers in this government. Together, they embody a new generation of bold and committed African leaders, ready to redefine the trajectories of development on the continent.
A field doctor and committed entrepreneur, poet, and a key figure in Namibia’s public health policies with a strong leadership presence, Dr. Esperance Luvindao embodies a new era for a health system seeking modernization and accessibility. At just 34, she carries the vision of an Africa where health is not a privilege, but a right.
Dr. Esperance Luvindao was born in Namibia to parents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The youngest of five siblings, she grew up in Windhoek, influenced by two cultures and two worldviews. “My parents are from the DRC. My family lives in the DRC. I speak Lingala. And though my French is what you might call ‘broken,’ I speak French, and I am proud of my heritage,” she shared with Africanshapers in a 2019 interview. This dual identity shapes her perspective on health: human, borderless, rooted in innovation, but always focused on what matters most—the human being.
Expertise without borders
Dr. Esperance Luvindao doesn’t just treat; she rethinks healthcare. A graduate in medicine and surgery from the University of Namibia, she enriches her journey with a master’s in healthcare management from the Management College of Southern Africa and a degree in public health from the University of Pretoria. Always seeking innovation, she specializes in digital health at Harvard Business School Online and trains for the challenges of tomorrow with certifications in artificial intelligence in healthcare, governance, healthcare financing, and project management. Knowledge at the crossroads of medicine and technology to build a more efficient and inclusive health system.
An expert in the Africa CDC’s digital health expert group, she combines technology and medicine to revolutionize access to healthcare. Until her ministerial appointment, she served on the disciplinary board of the Health Professions Council of Namibia, ensuring the ethics and excellence of healthcare practitioners.
Dr. Esperance Luvindao has launched a groundbreaking scholarship for young talents in healthcare. The first two recipients have just been revealed. These young women will begin their studies in Registered Nursing at the prestigious Welwitchia University in Namibia.
Field and heart-centered medicine
Dr. Esperance Luvindao has made health a global battle, moving beyond hospital walls to reach lives where access to care is a rare privilege. Convinced that medicine isn’t limited to a white coat, she has dedicated her career to building a more inclusive and sustainable system.
In 2013, at just 21 years old, she founded the “Angel for Hope” organization, becoming the first young Namibian to launch a non-profit organization. Her goal? To support children and parents affected by HIV/AIDS, breaking the cycle of suffering with hope and action. It was at this point that she realized giving back to the most vulnerable would not be a choice, but the mission of her life.
Step by step toward accessible healthcare
In 2019, Dr. Esperance Luvindao took a new step in her commitment by founding OSAAT (One Step At A Time) Africa Health Foundation. A clear mission: to break the barriers of health injustice by facilitating access to reproductive health, education, and fighting early pregnancies.
Confronted with the realities on the ground in northern Namibia, she discovered a system where the most vulnerable must travel over 50 km and wait up to 10 hours for a simple consultation. Faced with this urgency, she revolutionized access to care by offering free online consultations, reaching thousands of isolated patients. Where distance deepened inequalities, she built a digital bridge to healthcare.
In November 2023, Dr. Esperance Luvindao expanded her impact further with the launch of OSAAT Africa, a revolutionary health education initiative. Her goal? To provide African women with the keys to their well-being in their own languages. Accompanied by her team, she addresses key topics: contraception, sexual and menstrual health, breast cancer, and more. To reach as many women as possible, the information is disseminated in English, French, Swahili, Portuguese, Otjiherero, Oshiwambo, Rukwangali, Khoekhoegowab, Shona, and Afrikaans.
Available in supermarkets and rural clinics, the educational materials break down language barriers and democratize access to knowledge for women.
A key player in times of crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic,
Dr. Esperance Luvindao became a key figure in the national response. As Data Manager of the National Task Force, she played a central role in managing scientific data, providing decision-makers with crucial analysis to guide the country’s health policy.
Her commitment extends beyond borders. By collaborating with the WHO and other international institutions, she strengthened her influence on the African and global stages, contributing her expertise to major discussions on public health.
From December 2023 to March 2025, she served on the board of Omnicare Trust, helping to improve healthcare in Namibia. Her role: to define innovative strategies, ensure effective governance, and oversee initiatives to make healthcare accessible to all.
A telemedicine visionary and public speaking Expert
Dr. Esperance Luvindao is also the CEO of Menga Healthcare Technology, a pioneering company promoting telemedicine in Africa. Through this initiative, she is actively contributing to innovation in healthcare, making medical consultations more accessible, particularly in remote regions.
Recognized for her expertise, she is a frequent speaker at international conferences and was nominated for the 2021 African Speaker of the Year Award. Until 2024, she led Speaker’s Globe, an institute dedicated to training speakers, shaping students to become leaders in public speaking.
In 2022, her entrepreneurial genius earned her second place at the United Nations Young Entrepreneurs Awards in Johannesburg, a testament to her growing impact in entrepreneurship across Africa.
In parallel, Dr. Luvindao is a certified executive coach, trained at the University of Cape Town and registered with the International Coaching Federation. Specializing in supporting new managers and leaders, she guides them in leadership, management, communication, and public speaking, providing them with the tools to succeed and thrive in a demanding professional world.
A committed poet
Dr. Esperance Luvindao is also a recognized poet, finding in poetry her true breath of fresh air. She has been writing since the age of thirteen, inspired by literary figures like Shakespeare and Robert Frost. The publication of her poems in the UK Young Writers Anthology was a pivotal moment in her career, strengthening her determination to perfect her craft.
At 16, she started performing poetry and presented her first one-man show, a foundational moment in her artistic journey. Convinced that poetry deserves recognition, she launched the first poetry album in Southern Africa, an instant success that sold out twice. This victory drew the attention of businesses and government institutions, who sought her out for major events like World AIDS Day and Human Rights Day.
Her poetic career has taken her to Zimbabwe, South Africa, the United States, and beyond. In the United States, she not only performed but also served as a panelist at a poetry reading, exchanging ideas with poets from Haiti and New York, thereby marking her place on the global poetry scene.
