Estherine Lube ya Mitete

A Congolese physician and public health advocate who pioneered maternal health initiatives in conflict zones

Dr. Estherine Lube ya Mitete is a trailblazing Congolese physician renowned for her work in maternal and child health in regions affected by conflict and poverty. Born in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of war on healthcare systems during the Second Congo War (1998-2003). Her groundbreaking work focuses on rebuilding healthcare infrastructure and training local midwives in war-torn areas. In 2020, she launched the MotherSafe Initiative, a mobile clinic network that has provided prenatal care to over 15,000 women in Eastern DRC. Her collaboration with UNICEF introduced telemedicine solutions to diagnose high-risk pregnancies in regions inaccessible by road. Dr. Mitete’s advocacy led to the DRC government’s 2022 policy mandating free maternal healthcare in conflict zones. Her Health for Peace framework, published in the Lancet Global Health, has been adopted by WHO in 14 African nations. She also founded the NextGen Health Corps, training 300+ young healthcare workers annually through partnerships with universities like Harvard and Oxford. In 2023, she received the TED Prize for her visionary approach integrating mental health support into maternal care programs.