Osaat Africa Health Foundation’s Dr. Esperance Luvindao has been selected as a 2024 Echoing Green Fellow. One of 44 Fellows chosen by a Leader in the field of social innovation, Dr. Luvindao will receive an N$1.5 million stipend, as well as leadership development to support OSAAT Africa Health Foundation’s growth as an innovative solution to achieve quality sexual and reproductive health for all and bridge the gap between the quality of healthcare for those from lower socioeconomic groups as opposed to those from higher socioeconomic groups with digital health. Fellows join a lifelong support community of innovative thinkers, strategic partners, and industry peers.
Since 1987, Echoing Green has identified nearly 1,000 leaders launching new social enterprises and equipped them with the support and networks. The organization has accelerated the work of some of the world’s best and brightest social innovators. Previous fellows include former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (’91); political commentator Van Jones (’94); co-founders of national health movement GirlTrek, T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison (’13); and founder and chief executive officer of climate technology start-up BlocPower, Donnel Baird (’12). “From the planet’s hottest year yet, to ongoing global threats to democracy, to backsliding on hard-Fought progress on racial equity — these are challenging times. We need bold solutions now for these and other significant challenges. These new Fellows are meeting this moment with a level of brilliance, Care, and passion that gives me renewed hope for our collective future,” said Echoing Green President Cheryl L. Dorsey.
“This means everything to us. When I started Osaat Africa Health Foundation, I had to go from one office to the next begging for N$50 000 just to carry out a copper IUCD clinic. I persevered because I knew that the impact we could have is greater than the struggle we faced. I am humbled to join the Echoing Green fellowship. This is just the beginning and we have so many more lives to touch” said Luvindao.
The 2024 Fellows were selected through Echoing Green’s open call application and participatory grant making process after reviewing 2,100 applications. The 2024 Fellows class includes representation from 21 countries including the United States, Nigeria, India, Australia, Germany, Colombia, and Kenya. The newest Fellows are launching and growing innovative solutions to addressing racial and economic Inequality, disparities in access to healthcare, and creating new opportunities for inclusive education. This is the fourth and final cohort of Fellows supported by the Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund.
Osaat Africa Health Foundation was founded by Dr. Esperance Luvindao in 2019 during her years working at a hospital in Northern Namibia. The organization focuses on women’s health with a key focus in sexual and reproductive health. The Foundation focuses on educating women about sexual and reproductive health in their native languages in order to increase information retention and improve decision making. The health education material has been converted into an animation series called Emily’s Health, which is animated by Osaat Africa Health Foundation volunteers, for the community. Secondly, copper IUCD clinics are held periodically where specialist gynecologists insert copper IUCD insertions for free for women from disadvantaged backgrounds with a target of reducing the teenage pregnancy rate in SADC Africa by 60% by the year 2035. Thirdly, the Dr. Esperance Luvindao Healthcare Scholarship Award is linked to an assessment on the foundation’s sexual and reproductive health education material as a strategic move to ensure that the foundation educates women about sexual and reproductive health whilst simultaneously giving them an opportunity for self development through the scholarship. Women in the community that are interested in the scholarship must write the assessment and pass before being permitted to apply for the scholarship.
The assessment pass rates allow the foundation to confidently provide statistics on how many women have successfully been educated on sexual and reproductive health as the 50 multiple choice assessments are set by healthcare professionals and therefore require that students have a well rounded understanding of the topics they have been educated on. Finally, the foundation aims to bring digital healthcare services within reach for people from lower socioeconomic groups and recently unveiled MENGA; a digital health innovation that allows women from semi rural areas, suburbs and informal settlements to consult their doctor and access prescribed medication without leaving their local areas and incurring out of pocket health costs.