KwaZulu-Natal is celebrating the first black female Neurosurgeon to come out of the province. Dr Nomusa Shezi is one of only five Black African Female Neurosurgeons in South Africa.
The 32 year old woman has been described as diligent, humbled, God-fearing and focused.
Dr Shezi, who grew up from the township in Pietermaritzburg, recently qualified as a Neurosurgeon by the Discipline of Neurology in the school of Clinical Medicine at University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord. It is believed Dr. Shezi’s achievement will inspire more black Africans especially females to pursue their calls and dreams regardless of their background.
Dr Nomusa Shezi has become one of the black five female surgeons in the country. Neurosurgery is often referred to as brain surgery.
Shezi developed love for the sick and poor at a very young age. She says she always wanted to be a doctor and had no other option.
Dr Shezi says growing up during the height of HIV and AIDS epidemic in the late 90’s propelled her to follow a career path in the field of medicine.
“I was born in KZN in Pietermaritzburg I grew up in PMB, in the peak of the HIV epidemic in the 90’s that was when I was still a young child growing up. My parents were the kind of people that wanted to expose me to reality. When I saw the suffering and how my people were challenged, the desire to help was born to doing medicine and being a doctor. I wanted to find ways to help people. As a child I wanted to find cure for HIV and AIDS, but as I grew my passion got more focused to operating the head. I am just grateful to be seen as the first black female – it is always an honour.”
Dr Shezi is currently working as Neurosurgeon at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
Dr. Shezi – a daughter of a Pastor and Home Based Care Giver, attributed her accomplishment to prayer and dedication. She says biblical teachings have grounded her to treat everyone equally.
“My father has been a pastor – he raised us up to the important things in knowing our identity and who we are – that’s where my respect for people stems from. I am not a pastor like he is where he heals people but I also allow God in which ever field I am in to help people – I keep in mind we are all created in God’s image, my aim in humility – treating whether it is the richest person or poorest – is that we are all equals . I want to do the best in helping the community.”
Shezi’s mother Sibongile Shezi says her daughter was an energetic and focused child from young age. Shezi also credited prayer as the vehicle that delivered her daughter to reach her dream.
“She was saved and accepted Christ as a young child and moved on with a vision that has given her power through salvation. Her energy has always been directed to helping people and assist those who are struggling and actually assisting them as much as she could – her knowledge of who she is in terms of the identity and that’s where she has drawn her strength and energy).”
Meanwhile the head of Neurosurgery in Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Basil Enicker has described Shezi as an exceptional Doctor who is a shining example of a good Neurologist.
“Dr Shezi is a hardworking Doctor – she is a very good neurosurgeon – she did her training in record time – she is ethical and compassionate about her patience. She is always on time; she is the first person at work and the last person to leave work. She is an exceptional doctor even her colleagues acknowledge that. She has a great future in neurosurgery. We are very proud of her.”
Dr Shezi believes any person can become what they want to be as long as they are focused.
Currently South Africa has only five Black African neurosurgeons and it is believed more black females will be inspired to reach the ceilings of their dreams through Shezi’s accomplishment.
