Nkandu Phoebe Luo (born 21 December 1951) is a Zambian microbiologist and politician who was a vice presidential candidate for the Patriotic Front in the August 2021 election. She is a microbiologist who previously served as Head of Pathology and Microbiology at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka and has carried out extensive research into HIV/AIDS.
Nkandu Luo | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Livestock and Fisheries | |
| In office July 2019 – May 2021 | |
| President | Edgar Lungu |
| Preceded by | Kampamba Mulenga |
| Succeeded by | Makozo Chikote |
| Ministry of Higher Education | |
| In office September 2016 – July 2019 | |
| President | Edgar Lungu |
| Preceded by | Michael Kaingu |
| Succeeded by | Brian Mushimba |
| Minister of Gender and Child Development | |
| In office February 2015 – September 2016 | |
| President | Edgar Lungu |
| Preceded by | Inonge Wina |
| Succeeded by | Victoria Kalima |
| Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs | |
| In office 2012–2015 | |
| President | Michael Sata |
| Preceded by | Inonge Wina |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Katema |
| Minister of Local Government and Housing | |
| In office 2011 – February 2013 | |
| President | Michael Sata |
| Preceded by | Brian Chituwo |
| Succeeded by | Emmerine Kabanshi |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | |
| In office 1999–2001 | |
| President | Frederick Chiluba |
| Preceded by | Dawson Lupunga |
| Succeeded by | Lupando Mwape |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office February 1999 – December 1999 | |
| President | Frederick Chiluba |
| Preceded by | Katele Kalumba |
| Succeeded by | David Mpamba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 December 1951 Chinsali, Zambia |
| Alma mater | Moscow State University (1977) University of Brunei Darussalam |
| Profession | Microbiologist |
Early life and education
editLuo was born at Lubwa Mission Hospital in Chinsali on 21 December 1951. Her parents were both teachers and Luo was one of the eight surviving children.[1][2] She attended Roma Girls Secondary School and Dominican Convent. She has a MSc in microbiology from Moscow State University and a MSc and PhD in immunology from the University of Brunei Darussalam.[2][3]
Career
editLuo worked at Saint Mary's Hospital in London. She became a professor in microbiology and immunology at the University of Zambia in 1993 and worked as Head of Pathology and Microbiology at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.[2][4] She has published numerous journal articles on HIV/AIDS.
Luo was elected to parliament representing the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy in the Mandevu constituency in 1996.[5][6] She served as Deputy Minister of Health from 1997 to 1999 and Health Minister in 1999, however she clashed with both donors and health workers and was moved from the post in November 1999 and replaced by David Mpamba.[6] She was Minister of Transport and Communications from 1999 to 2001 before losing her seat in the 2001 election.[6]
Luo created a network of thirty national AIDS advocacy groups and founded non-profit organisation Tasintha,[7] which seeks to free Zambia from commercial sex-work and HIV/AIDS.[1][8][9] She established the National AIDS Control program, the National Blood Transfusion Service and the Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS program.[4]
Luo was elected as the Patriotic Front representative for Munali constituency in 2011. She was appointed as Minister of Local Government and Housing by Michael Sata, serving from 2011 to 2014, and then became Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs from 2014 to 2015.[4][10] Luo was sworn in as Minister of Gender by Edgar Lungu in February 2015.[11] In March 2016, Luo was adopted as President of the Women Parliamentary caucus at the 134th Inter Parliamentary Union conference in Lusaka.[12] In September 2016, she became Zambia's Higher Education Minister.[3] Luo was appointed as the minister of fisheries and livestock in 2019. On October 20, 2019, she threatened to cancel the memorandum of understanding with the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) for the construction of an agricultural industrial park in Chipata worth 1billion.[13]
Luo was the running mate for President Lungu in the August 2021 election after Vice President Inonge Wina announced her decision to retire.[14]
Selected publications
edit- Elliott, Alison M; Luo, Nkandu; et al. (1990). "Impact of HIV on tuberculosis in Zambia: a cross sectional study". BMJ. 301 (6749): 412–415. doi:10.1136/bmj.301.6749.412. PMC 1663706. PMID 2282396.
- Conlon, Christopher P.; Luo, Nkandu; et al. (1990). "HIV-related enteropathy in Zambia: a clinical, microbiological, and histological study". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 42 (1): 83–88. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1990.42.83. PMID 2301710.
- Luo, Nkandu (1993). "Socio-culture and Economic Dimensions of HIV/AIDS in Zambia". Positive Living Network. Lusaka.
- Elliott, Alison M.; Luo, Nkandu; et al. (1995). "The impact of human immunodeficiency virus on mortality of patients treated for tuberculosis in a cohort study in Zambia". Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 89 (1): 78–82. doi:10.1016/0035-9203(95)90668-1. PMID 7747316.
- Peeters, Martine; Luo, Nkandu; et al. (1997). "Geographical distribution of HIV‐1 group O viruses in Africa". AIDS. 11 (4): 493–498. doi:10.1097/00002030-199704000-00013. PMID 9084797. S2CID 24238394.
Personal life
editLuo is a mother of two and grandmother of 4. She spends her free time with her close family and also delivers lectures to students on various platforms on various subjects.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b Barton, Antigone (17 March 2015). "Zambia Gender Minister: Poverty slows march toward equity". Science Speaks. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "PF Candidate: Prof Nkandu Luo". Sunday Post. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Zambia's cabinet takes shape as President Lungu appoints 8 more ministers". Zambia Business Times. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Advancing Maternal & Child Health in Zambia and Southern Africa through Gender-Based Interventions". University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Be aware of false and fabricated lies by UPND-Nkandu Luo". Lusaka Times. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Leenstra, Melle (14 March 2012). Beyond the façade : instrumentalisation of the Zambian health sector (PDF) (Thesis). Universiteit Leiden. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Tasintha www.csmonitor.com
- ^ Berger, Iris (2016). Women in Twentieth-Century Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 190. ISBN 9781316565087.
- ^ Fleischman, Janet (2002). Suffering in Silence: The Links Between Human Rights Abuses and HIV Transmission to Girls in Zambia. Human Rights. Watch. p. 40.
- ^ "Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership".
- ^ "President Lungu swears in Nkandu Luo and Deputy Ministers". Lusaka Times. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Nkandu Luo adopted as President of the Women Parliamentary caucus". Lusaka Times. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Lusaka Times [dead link]
- ^ "Zambian president appoints Nkandu Luo as running mate for Aug. 12 polls". Xinhua Net. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.