Study to be a dietician
"Being a dietician means giving patients dietary management advice that will work for them," said Pholosong Hospital dietician Mamochabo Mathipa.
She said in order to qualify to be a dietician, one needs to do a postgraduate dietetics diploma or a four year integrated BSc dietetics.
The compulsory subjects which one needs to have passed in Grade 12 in order to be able to do the course is maths, life science and physics.
The course is offered at most of the universities around the country.
Mathipa said what she enjoys about her work is meeting new people everyday.
“As a dietician, you have the opportunity to work with different patients from different backgrounds,” she said.
She added that it is rewarding to get a positive response from a patient who you gave dietary management advise to and it is working for him.
Despite her love for her job, Mathipa explained that there are challenges that dieticians are faced with in their line of duty.
She said challenges include, patients population with poor socio-economic status, budget constraints and risk of infection.
However,she encouraged other young people to do the course and become the dieticians of tomorrow, who will give advice to the community concerning diet issues.
Mathipa says after graduation, registered dieticians are placed at different institutions to complete their one year paid community services.
She added that even though dieticians’ main employment patient areas are hospitals, they can find employment in areas such as private practice, research, pharmaceutical, sports and education.
