Sílvia Paula Valentim Lutucuta, was appointed on September 28, 2017, by Presidential Decree, Minister of Health of the Republic of Angola. She is a Cardiologist, was a University Professor, head of the Department of Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Faculty of Medicine, with experience in Research-Molecular Biology and Genetics of Cardiovascular Diseases.
In his brilliant academic curriculum, he completed pre-university studies in Biological Sciences, in the province of Huambo, and entered the Faculty of Medicine of the Agostinho Neto University, the provincial nucleus of Huambo, at just 16 years of age.
She completed her degree at the age of 21, in 1990. As she was the youngest of the students at that time, she won a Postgraduate Scholarship in Cardiology at Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon-Portugal, supervised by Prof. Celeste Vagueiro, at the same time, was part of Prof. Doctor Fausto Pinto.
Sílvia Lutucuta, was Member and President of the Association of Pre-University Students of Huambo, President of the Association of Medical Students of Huambo, Member of the National Association of Higher Education Students of Angola, Member of the Association of Postgraduates in Portugal, Member of the Njango Association in the USA, Member of the Order of Doctors of Angola in Portugal, Member of the Portuguese Angolan Society of Cardiology, Vice-President of the Angolan Society of Cardiovascular Diseases and Member of the Senate of the Agostinho Neto University.
Many people have in their minds the idea that the Minister “parachuted in” when she was appointed to the position, in the Government of João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. On the contrary, she discovered her talents very early in what she does. At the age of 19, she began her career as a university professor, monitoring the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine in the province of Huambo, in the Department of Morphology, teaching the Histology chair.
The Minister of Health also brings experience from other parts of the world to her CV, working in the United States of America, specifically in research, where she carried out several studies on the translocation of Basic Science to Clinical Science and joined study groups on Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic, Atherosclerosis and Sickle Cell Anemia. These studies are guided by renowned global personalities such as: Prof. Dr. Robert Robertes, Prof. Dr. Ali Marian and Prof. Dr. Jose Lopez.
Sílvia Lutucuta published scientific articles in specialized magazines and also gave presentations at International Congresses. As a result of these long years of research, several awards emerged, international medical research awards (best presentation in research at Research Symposia and best researcher in Basic Sciences).
Sílvia Lutucuta, worked at various basic and clinical levels, advanced with various training in Echocardiography at the Hamersmith Hospital in London and in the last decade joined the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston-Texas-USA, where she carried out research into Cardiovascular diseases as a “Post -DOC Resarcher Fallow” and Associate researcher.
As Minister of Health, she has shown herself to be very dedicated, given that she was given a ministry with many problems. It has been the most controversial compared to other ministries belonging to the State apparatus: Strikes by doctors, nurses, workers in general and users.
The portal News from Angola, in recent days we had the opportunity to closely follow the work of Sílvia Lutucuta, in the provinces of Kuanza-Sul, Huambo and Bié, we noticed that when we talk about work She doesn’t stop. At the launch of the Polio Vaccination Campaign, we landed in the province of Huambo in transit to Bié, his work schedule began in Huambo, with a visit to the Center for Medicine and Physical Rehabilitation Dr. António Agostinho Neto, then we headed back car to the province of Bié, opened the Polio Vaccination Campaign, in the municipality of Chitembo, visited the Chitembo Hospital, reopened the CRF of Bié, and met at the Provincial Government of Bié, and the MINSA delegation, visited the municipalities of Katabola, Kamakupa and Cuemba.
He rolled up his sleeves, on Sunday, the third day of the campaign, returned to the municipality of Chitembo and “took off his high heels”, passed by some churches (Catholic, IECA and Assembly of God), not with the evangelical purpose, but rather to raise awareness of the vaccination campaign, on the streets of the municipality it passed by some houses.
It should be remembered that Sílvia Lutucuta was distinguished in the Divas de Angola contest, held on December 3, 2015, by Glamor em Festa, in two categories (Health and Education Diva).
Text and photos: Nambi Wanderley