Dr Esperance Luvindao is transforming healthcare access and equity as a doctor, health innovator, and Africa’s youngest Health Minister.
When Dr Esperance Luvindao was sworn in as Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services in March 2025, she made history. At just 30 years old, she became the youngest Health Minister in Africa and the second youngest in the world. Her appointment by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was a recognition of a woman who had already redefined what leadership in public health could look like.
Born in 1994 in Namibia to Congolese parents, Luvindao grew up in Windhoek. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Namibia, but didn’t stop there. She completed an MBA from the Management College of Southern Africa, a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Pretoria, and later studied Digital Health at Harvard Business School Online. She also became a certified executive coach through the University of Cape Town and is registered with the International Coaching Federation.
These experiences guided her early humanitarian work. At 21, she founded Angel for Hope, one of Namibia’s first youth-led nonprofits supporting children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. By 2019, she launched OSAAT (One Step At A Time) Africa Health Foundation, which focused on women’s reproductive health, contraceptive access, and digital healthcare education. Through OSAAT, she has pioneered Menga Healthcare Technology, a telemedicine initiative that offers free online consultations and medical information in multiple African languages.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she personally coordinated and delivered more than 44,000 free online consultations across several countries, earning her the Commonwealth Points of Light Award in 2022.
Her work with OSAAT also had a tangible impact on the ground. The foundation distributed medication and equipment to over 35,000 Namibians in remote areas and introduced a portable sonar probe to detect fibroids and assess pregnancies in rural communities.
Her national recognition grew during the pandemic, where she served as Data Manager for Namibia’s National COVID-19 Task Force, overseeing crucial data systems that guided national policy. Her achievements include being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Healthcare, winning African Humanitarian of the Year in 2021, and securing second place at the United Nations Young Entrepreneurs Awards for her contributions to digital health and women’s empowerment.
Serving as the Minister of health and social care
Since assuming her role, Luvindao has implemented significant changes. In October 2025, she unveiled Namibia’s Universal Health Coverage Policy and Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2030). This extensive framework aims to guarantee fair access to essential health services by 2030, with key priorities including immunisation, maternal and child health, digital transformation, and health workforce development. The plan also includes the establishment of an independent regulatory agency to enhance safety and quality standards.
Furthermore, she introduced the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Adolescent Health and Nutrition Strategy (2025–2030) to decrease mortality rates and strengthen healthcare delivery in communities.
Her ministry has also spearheaded new health taxes on tobacco and alcohol to combat non-communicable diseases and launched the “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” campaign to promote maternal and child health. Beyond national efforts, Esperance Luvindao has fostered new regional collaborations, such as a health partnership with Botswana designed to improve cross-border disease surveillance and emergency response systems.
