Luise Nghiueuelekwa on pursuing a career in medicine

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Luise Nghiueuelekwa was born in a small village called Iikuku, in the Northern part of Namibia, where she had her primary and junior high education. After her junior high experience, her aunt saw potential in her and moved her to the city of Windhoek to find better opportunities for a good education.

Today, Luise is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program (MBChB) at Kampala International University, Western Campus in Uganda.

 

So far this journey has shaped me into being a self-driven, analytic and independent thinker. But most importantly, it has taught me to appreciate life. I look at life in a much valuable sense. It has also left me with the question on my mind that I hope to find an answer to; WHAT IS IT IN THE WORLD OF MEDICINE THAT A WOMAN CAN'T DO?

Luise is a married mother of two.

• What do your family and friends think about your academic career? Are they supportive?

“My family and a few relatives are quite supportive. Their hope and desire is that I complete my studies successfully. I am the first lady, and generally the first person in the whole family to pursue this degree. It is, therefore, “our” degree.”

• What is the general perception of women in STEM in Namibia?

“These are fields that are generally perceived to be in a man’s world only. Although that is the case, over the past few years, women have taken up the challenge to pursue careers in STEM. The battle now is to change the narrative and mindset of the society towards acknowledging women as competent leaders in these areas, just as men are. I am inspired by Dr. Helena Ndume, a Namibian Ophthalmologist, notable for her charitable work among sufferers of eye-related illnesses in Namibia. She was awarded as the New African Woman in Health, Science and Technology in 2017, and serves as a role model to most of us.”

• What are some of the challenges you face with your studies in the university?

“Usually the workload of the program I am pursuing requires sacrifices of long sleepless nights, and generally having no social life. But it will be all worth it in the end.”

• What sort of impact do you see yourself making in the next 10 years?

“There has always been a shortage of doctors from Namibia. Majority of our doctors are foreign who do not speak our local languages. This creates a barrier between patient and doctor interaction. I intend to break this barrier, and I will start by caring for my village district. Hopefully, in the next 10 year, I will be able to create and join an association of local team doctors in Namibia.”

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