Doctor Josef Shivute is a licensed health professional, who maintains and restores human health through the practice of medicine. He said his decision to become a medical doctor was driven by a desire to help others and make a difference in people’s lives.
In an interview with New Era, doctor Shivute revealed his career started because of a strong interest in science, biology and healthcare, as well as a passion for understanding the human body and how it works at a tender age.
Owing to the fact that medical doctors are highly respected members of society, and that the profession offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth, like any other practitioner, Dr Shivute revealed he chose this career path for the dignity and respect that comes with it.
“It is a financially rewarding career and one that offers job security and stability. Also, the field of medicine is constantly evolving, which can provide the opportunity to continually learn and develop new skills. There is also a high level of intellectual challenge associated with the profession, as doctors are called upon to diagnose and treat complex medical conditions,” he said.
Besides being a medical doctor, Shivute is well known as a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, youth speaker and fitness enthusiast. He was born in a small village in the Omusati region, called Elim, and he attended primary school at St. Andrews Primary in Windhoek and then moved to the famous St. Boniface College in the Kavango region.
Dr Shivute obtained his medical degree from the University of Namibia’s School of Medicine – now known as the Hage Geingob Campus.
Public servant
Dr Shivute joined the public service in 2020 after obtaining a medical degree. Before that, he owned a few small businesses and at the same time worked as a fitness instructor, event organiser and promoter, model and photographer.
Asked why he opted to join the public service and whether it was his dream to work for the government, Dr Shivute said, “It has always been my dream to live a life of servitude and giving back to the community. I think the state provides the best setting for that,” he said.
He said working in the public sector also means being of service to everyone, regardless of social status, as well as benefitting from strong guarantees that allow one to grow in your profession in an environment that puts people first.
On the job
Being a doctor is highly rewarding, however, it has its challenges. Doctors who work long hours-they are usually required to work nights and call shifts. According to Shivute, it can be difficult to maintain an active social life or have an excellent work-life balance all the time. It is a highly stressful career; you must be able to make decisions on your feet.
“It is a lifelong learning career - you must be up to date with the latest guidelines and technological advancements and drugs in the world of medicine,” he said.
However, he said what he found satisfying about his job is the fact that working in the public sector means being of service to everyone regardless of social status, as well as benefiting from strong guarantees that allow you to grow in the profession in an environment that puts people first.
When asked how his expertise is beneficial to the public service, he said, “Apart from diagnosing and prescribing the medication for curing purposes, I am glad I contribute to the lowering of the ratio of doctor-patient, which has always been a burden and a hindering factor to the country’s ability to provide effective care. The above is important in that it will get the ministry closer to achieving Vision 2030 and globally, the millennial developmental goals,” he said.
Memorable moments
“In our line of work, we do not often get rewards or recognition; it is also not the reason we get into the career in the first place. It’s all pure passion, and our accomplishments come with our contribution to reducing morbidity and mortality. The ability to help restore health every day is an accomplishment on its own. Every successful diagnosis and treatment will always be an accomplishment in our line of work. Every patient interaction is memorable for us,” said Shivute.
He further said, “Although our services are sometimes slow, we provide the best service we can with the resources available to us. The public sector caters for much of the population; hence, the burden on public servants is huge. There are a lot of contributing factors that are overlooked: the lack of resources and funding, as well as the burden of the client-to-service provider ratio – the public sector is very understaffed. I think with all these drawbacks, public institutions are actually performing miracles every day”.
Wishlist
“Professionally, I want to get to a point where I can be part of the policymakers and help make a real difference and improve our health system. My individual goals are in line with my professional goals, which in summary is just to grow professionally,” said Shivute.