title: Julieta da Graça do Espírito Santo
text: # Julieta da Graça do Espírito Santo
  
  Julieta da Graça Pinto do Espírito Santo (died 2 January 2008) was a São Toméan physician and politician. The first female doctor in the country, she was also one of the first group of female members of National Assembly in 1975.
  
  ## Biography
  
  Graça entered the Instituto de Odivelas boarding school in Portugal in 1933. She later studied medicine and surgery at the University of Coimbra, returning to São Tomé in 1955 as the first female doctor in the territory. After independence in 1975 she became director general of health services and also co-ordinated World Health Organization programmes in the islands.
  
  In December 1975 Graça was appointed to the National Assembly as one of the first group of six women in the legislature. She later also served in parliament for Independent Democratic Action.
  
  She died in January 2008 at the age of 86.
  
  