Namibian will participate in Africa’s largest public health conference – Windhoek Observer

Hertta-Maria Amutenja

Medical healthcare practitioner and Founder of MENGA Healthcare Technology Dr Esperance Luvindao, has been invited by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to speak at the third International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Lusaka, Zambia.

The conference which started this week Monday will conclude on Thursday under the theme “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture.”

Attendees at this year’s conference are Namibian Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Director of the Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya alongside other heads of states and global leaders.

Luvindao, who will be representing Namibia, will look at how technology is influencing the healthcare sector and the development of a digital health workforce.

One of the things that Luvindao looks forward to addressing is how Africa can work towards removing outdated health policies and regulations that are limiting the implementation of life-saving technologies in the continent.

“The urgent need for policy reform to accommodate digital health innovations is imperative. During the conference, I will share a solution that will be a game-changer within the healthcare sector. This telemedicine product known as ‘Menga’ is aimed at addressing critical gaps within the African health systems,” said Luvindao.

Furthermore, Luvindao would like to see African Governments creating health innovation managers or departments within their Ministries of Health.

This she considers will ready countries for the emergence of Artificial Intelligence within the healthcare sector.

Additionally, Luvindao also sees the need for capacity building and the creation of an internationally recognised body that can oversee healthcare innovations.

Last year Luvindao spoke at the largest Healthcare Technology conference in the world, which took place in Dubai.

During that conference, she discussed pertinent matters related to the advancement of telemedicine in Africa.