Dr. Velephi Okello was deputy director of health services at the Swaziland Ministry of Health where she oversaw all clinical services. From October 2004, she was senior medical officer and national ART (antiretroviral treatment) coordinator for the Swaziland National AIDS Programme (SNAP) in the ministry. Before joining the ministry, Okello practiced medicine in Swaziland for several years. Okello held a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. She earned her medical degree at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in 2000.

Okello on discovering she wanted to be a doctor