Dr. Laimi Sofia Nalitye Ashipala is a Namibian public health physician and global health leader with over 15 years of experience in clinical medicine, HIV program management, health systems strengthening, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). She currently serves as National Professional Officer for Non-Communicable Diseases at World Health Organization, where she provides strategic and technical leadership to support Namibia’s national response to NCDs, including the integration of NCD services into HIV care. She also serves in an acting capacity overseeing HIV, TB, malaria, and neglected tropical disease programmes.
Prior to joining WHO, Dr. Ashipala served as Chief Medical Officer for HIV/STIs at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, where she led and supervised 16 national HIV sub-programmes and played a central role in strategic planning, policy development, grant management, and stakeholder coordination. She contributed to Namibia’s HIV response, including the development of adaptive strategies that ensured continuity of HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership strengthened partnerships with key development partners, including PEPFAR, The Global Fund, and USAID.
Dr. Ashipala has notable experience in correctional health services, having previously served as Chief Medical Officer and Commissioner at the Namibian Correctional Service. In this role, she successfully led the implementation of comprehensive HIV and TB programmes, introduced TB screening at inmate admission and release, and spearheaded the development of the correctional health policy with support from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
A graduate of the Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme (2023 cohort), Dr. Ashipala developed an HIV peer education curriculum for men in Namibia as part of her fellowship project. She is passionate about leadership development, health diplomacy, gender equity, and strengthening Africa’s public health systems in line with the New Public Health Order for Africa. She graduated from the WomeLift Leadership Journey (2025 Southern Inaugural Cohort).
Dr. Ashipala has contributed to several national and international technical advisory committees, including the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board Country Technical Advisory Team, Fast-Track City Initiatives, AIDS Watch Africa Experts, and Namibia’s Essential Medicines List Committee. She is also an honorary lecturer at the Namibia School of Medicine and an examiner for the Health Professions Councils of Namibia.
Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Stellenbosch University and a Master of Science in Public Health from University of South Wales. She has also completed leadership and global health training through institutions including the World Bank Group, University of Washington, and London School of Economics and Political Science.
