The (sad) story of an SA doctor without support or protection
Zolelwa Sifumba, after fighting TB herself, had to battle Covid-19 and a ‘system that doesn't care’ before addressing her own mental health
28 September 2020 - 11:53
Zolelwa Sifumba described the daily injection she got to treat tuberculosis (TB) as feeling like hot lava being pumped slowly into her body, leaving the young SA doctor with crippling joint pain and incessant nausea.
She thought her 18-month fight against multidrug-resistant TB was a career low-point until — five years on — she fell ill with Covid-19 and acute anxiety while working on the pandemic front-lines with scant personal protective equipment (PPE) and support...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.