For the month of October/November, we will be focusing and exploring two of our exciting programmes, HOPE for Home and HOPE for Babies. Situated at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, working closely with doctors and professors, these programmes have impacted many lives for the past 20 years!
To kick start this series, we chat to Samukelisiwe Nyamathe, Medical Doctor for HOPE Cape Town.
Introduction:
Samukelisiwe grew up in the south of Johannesburg in a small suburb called Elandspark. She was brought up by her grandparents and went to both primary and high school in a neighbouring suburb. In her matric year, she decided to go study in Cape Town where she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Cape Town and then went back to work in Johannesburg.
She then completed her medical internship at Far East Rand Hospital and community service at South Rand Hospital, both in Johannesburg. She then worked for a while under a mentor doctor in a private practice in Johannesburg before coming to join Hope Cape Town. Subsequently, she completed a diploma in Public Health and in 2019 completed her coursework for a master’s in science in Child Health, pending examination of her thesis.
Was becoming a doctor always something, you wanted to do? Was their anyone who inspired you to choose this career?
I don’t recall when I made the decision to become a doctor, but it was largely influenced by my grandmother who happened to have many chronic illnesses and was sick for as long as I can remember. I had a great passion to be of service to people and that led me to the career of medicine.
How did you find yourself at HOPE Cape Town?
While I was doing work in private practice in Johannesburg, my mother came across an advertisement with the job for an NGO in Cape Town. She knew how much I wanted to explore my career in research much further and it was an excellent opportunity to come back to a city that I love.
Take us through your typical day/week before and at office
My day starts at about 5am, I wake up for an early morning prayer and breakfast. I do some reading and then get ready for work.
On a Monday I am in the office either for a staff meeting or doing administrative work. On a Tuesday I am at Delft South Clinic where I see paediatric patients in the infectious disease clinic together with 3 other doctors at the clinic.
On a Wednesday I am in the office and then I drive in to Tygerberg Hospital to see the Hope to Home and Hope for Babies Team.
On a Thursday I am in the Neurodevelopment Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital where I see some of the established patients alongside Dr Springer and Dr Thomas.
On a Friday I alternate with Dr Ana Houston to work at the Delft CHC clinic where we see the paediatric ARV clinic patients.
What are some of your challenges?
It has been quite challenging as a person with a background in medicine to work as a supervisor of projects where majority of the role was human resource and admin related however it was probably my biggest learning curve.
What are some of your highlights?
I got the chance to do a research project describing the risk of adolescent girls and young women becoming HIV infected where I interviewed hundreds of women at Tygerberg hospital and got the chance to get a glimpse of how young women navigate their environments and also to understand the challenges that they face as young women.
I also love working with the children in the clinics. Sometimes it is difficult to have the patience required to work with people and their commitment to the well – being of their children but when you see someone who was struggling actually doing well and being optimistic about their future it really makes it all worth it.
What do you do in your leisure time?
I take a lot of walks. During the lockdown period I came to appreciate the peaceful power that nature brings. I read at least 2 books a month, one with my book club and one other one of interest to me.
I spend a lot of time with friends and family and explore new places like coffee shops, small towns, new cities. I mentor other young women who are working their way out through life.
Favourite food
Hands down: Pasta!
Hobbies
Reading. Yoga. Gardening.
