Pricilla Mukokobi
Miss Supranational Namibia 2022 Julita Kitwe Mbangula recently hosted the third edition of the Hermosa Mimosa Affair, a platform to empower young girls with dreams to become doctors.
Held at Skinny Cow eatery in Windhoek, the event links female medical students and medical interns with medical officers and specialists to impound on their knowledge.
Mbangula, a medical doctor herself, told VIBEZ! the day was “absolutely spectacular” and “everything I imagined it to be and more”.
“These editions keep on getting better and better over time and my team really pulled all the stops to make it a success. The reviews were excellent and more importantly, the girls walked away with something to keep their dream alive,” she said satisfyingly.
It was an intimate event of not more than 50 guests, with Mbangula saying that the selection process is tough but they usually end up with a good number of attendees.
“The idea is to build a strong network and cultivate a culture of mentorship among women in medicine. Seeing that this career has a tendency to take its toll on us, it’s so important to start with comprehensive career guidance right at the beginning of their journeys to determine if this is something they really want.
The health system needs doctors that are passionate and will go out of their way for their patients and we need to plant that seed at the beginning so they can withstand anything thrown at them,” she explained.
The keynote speaker was Dr Helena Ndume, whom Mbangula described as “our miracle doctor, an international icon, a gem, a true embodiment of a doctor in every sense of the word and a personal role model of mine”.
Mbangula said she founded the project to use what she knows and has as a medical doctor to inspire others to pursue fields in the critical field.
She was able to identify gaps that hindered her during her training and used that as an opportunity to clear the path for others.
“I cannot advise a profession I know nothing about, and we are looking into outsourcing other female professionals and providing comprehensive career guidance.”
Mbangula said the dream was realised after her biggest inspiration – Nikita Rix, the owner of the Skinny Cow eatery and Solé Atelijee – sat her down after her crowning in March last year and suggested she use her platform to provide some inspiration to young girls aspirating to be doctors.
The first edition took place in 2021 at the same venue and the second edition was held last year in Oshakati, Oshana region to include girls in remote areas in northern Namibia of whom some hardly get life-changing opportunities to improve their circumstances.
Girls were advised that a career should be a well thought-out decision.