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Selma Naimhwaka

@selmanaimhwaka

Public health specialist leading digital health and HIS implementation to strengthen surveillance and adoption across Namibia.

Namibia

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead digital health and HIS strengthening—coordinating multi-stakeholder implementation, improving data quality and reporting, building capacity, and ensuring systems meet national standards and real community needs.

I’m a Public Health Specialist with over 20 years of combined clinical nursing and public health experience, including national leadership in digital health and health information system implementation in Namibia. I focus on ensuring digital solutions align with national standards, community needs, and sustainable public health goals.

As Country Team Lead Data for Implementation (Data.FI)/ Palladium, I led Namibia’s integrated Digital Community System implementation and coordinated delivery, acceptance testing, and optimization in partnership with MoHSS and other ministries and development stakeholders. I also designed and led capacity-building programs that improved sustainability and user adoption across digital platforms.

Earlier, as a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator at Abt Global, I strengthened national COVID-19 surveillance through enhanced digital reporting systems and data flows, supported DHIS2 configuration and integration for SRH/HIV programs, and led preparation of national performance reports using digital analytics. Across my roles, I’ve consistently strengthened data quality, monitoring and evaluation practices, and community-level health information systems through training, mentorship, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Country Team Lead - Data.FI

Current

Palladium

Feb 2024 - Present (2 years 2 months)

Led Namibia’s national implementation of the integrated Digital Community System, ensuring end-user inclusion and alignment with MoHSS and government priorities. Oversaw digital product delivery, acceptance testing, and capacity building to improve adoption of digital health and community platforms.

Digital Community Systems Digital Health User Acceptance Testing (UAT)Requirements Gathering Stakeholder Management Capacity Building Health Information Systems Digital Reporting

MEL Coordinator

Abt Global

Jan 2020 - Feb 2024 (4 years 1 month)

Strengthened national COVID-19 surveillance by enhancing digital reporting systems and data flows. Supported DHIS2 configuration and integration for SRH/HIV programs and led preparation of national performance reports using digital analytics.

DHIS2 Digital Reporting SRH HIV Data Integration performance reporting Digital Analytics Monitoring and Evaluation Data Quality Assurance

Study Coordinator - Recency

Recency HIV Testing Global Program

May 2019 - Dec 2019 (7 months)

Coordinated national Recency HIV testing activities with MoHSS, supporting ethical procedures and quality improvement/quality assurance through regular support visits. Led training-of-trainers and stepdown trainings and strengthened digital data collection, QA/QI, and incident reporting workflows.

HIV Recency Testing Coordination Data Collection Monitoring and Evaluation

M&E Consultant (AIDS Free)

Abt Associates – AIDS Free

Jan 2019 - Apr 2019 (3 months)

Provided technical assistance to the monitoring and evaluation activities of the AIDS Free project during the consultancy period.

Monitoring And Evaluation Technical Assistance Indicator Support Data Quality Assurance

M&E Specialist / Advisor

John Snow Inc

Feb 2015 - Sep 2018 (3 years 7 months)

Enhanced health extension worker reporting and surveillance tools and integrated community-based HIV testing into national digital health systems. Partnered with MoHSS to improve health information systems and strengthen community-level HIS through capacity-building initiatives.

Health Extension Worker Reporting Community Based HIV Testing Capacity Building Stakeholder Engagement Monitoring and Evaluation

M&E and Research Officer

IntraHealth International

Dec 2013 - Jan 2015 (1 year 1 month)

Developed, reviewed, maintained, and updated M&E systems including reporting, plans, tools, databases, and data flows to ensure high-quality, on-time completion. Provided oversight and support for research and evaluation activities.

Reporting Tools Database And Data Flows Indicator Tracking Research And Evaluation Oversight Quality Assurance Program Support

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Master of Public Health, International Health and Development

Earned a Master of Public Health in International Health and Development from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in May 2012.