Role model shapes youngsters
"I was actually one of the fortunate students who took advantage of the student support and used the opportunities exceptionally well for my future life."
Role models have the ability to shape the views, ideals and actions of young people.
One of Tembisa’s role models is Dr Bontle Mitchell Phooko, a young medical practitioner who helps uplift the community by mentoring young people, giving health talks, empowering women and supporting charity events.
Alexandra-based, Dr Phooko, who was born at the Tembisa Hospital, is currently a paediatrician there.
In order to obtain the education she needed for her medical career, Dr Phooko relied on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and other scholarships to pay her university fees.
“I was actually one of the fortunate students who took advantage of the student support and used the opportunities exceptionally well for my future life,” she said.
“I do not come from a rich family who could afford to take me to good schools and varsity. I grew up knowing that education was the only way to get a better life. And one has to work very hard in order to become the best.”
Dr Phooko studied for her medical degree at the University of Cape Town, did her internship at Tembisa Hospital and her community service at Edenvale Hospital.
When asked about her biggest challenge as a medical practitioner, Dr Phooko said the long working hours and the shortage of resources sometimes make her want to leave.
“Long hours is the major challenge because we do 80 hours of overtime and we basically have to do 24 hours call about once a week. You don’t sleep during those 24 hours on call and sometimes that could make one want to leave,” said Dr Phooko.
When asked how she deals with frustrated and angry patients, Dr Phooko said she tries to calm them down.
“You don’t have to shout back at a patient because you will be making matters even worse. Sometimes patients like to direct doctors around and if you don’t listen to them, they get angry.
“The best way is to listen to them and share advice on how you are going to work with each other. You sometimes feel frustrated when you are being shouted at by people you are trying to help,” said Dr Phooko.
Dr Phooko said she recommends medicine as a career to young South Africans.
“The country has intelligent young people. I feel it is great for them to experience the different careers that are there and take advantage of opportunities that we never had before, during the apartheid regime,” said Dr Phooko.
