Latest news with #OnazoDaniso
The Herald
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald
‘I need to be part of decision-making': Nurse beats odds to qualify as doctor
Onazo Daniso balanced life as a medical student by day and a part-time nurse by night. On Wednesday her dedication was vindicated when she crossed the graduation stage at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), earning her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery ( MBChB) degree cum laude . UKZN said the cum laude pass reflects an academic average of at least 75% across all her modules, which is a remarkable feat for anyone but even more so for someone who spent years juggling work, study, student leadership, financial hardship and the emotional weight of frontline pandemic duty. 'I have always wanted to be a doctor. I can't imagine doing anything else. I love my job and think I would have been miserable doing something else,' said the 29-year-old, who is an intern at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Durban. Daniso's love for medicine began in the Eastern Cape town of Lusikisiki, where she grew up witnessing the health-care struggles of rural communities. The idea of becoming a doctor was further planted in her mind while in grade 11 and living with her uncle in King Williams Town. 'I was attending extra classes. One of the teachers pulled me aside and suggested I consider medicine. At first I doubted myself,' she said. In 2013 while in matric she applied to study medicine at the University of the Free State but was accepted to study nursing, her second choice.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Onazo Daniso's inspiring journey to becoming a doctor
Newly graduated doctor Onazo Daniso Image: Sethu Dlamini From a nursing sister to a doctor, Onazo Daniso's dream of obtaining a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree is now a reality. Daniso, 29, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, cum laude, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Formerly from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, Daniso balanced life as a medical student by day and a part-time nurse by night. Currently an intern at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Durban, Daniso's cum laude pass reflects an academic average of at least 75% across all her modules. She spent years juggling work, study, student leadership, financial hardship, and the emotional trauma of working frontline during the Covid pandemic. 'I have always wanted to be a doctor. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I love my job. Growing up in Lusikisiki the hospitals and clinics were far. It was a struggle for most people to access healthcare. I knew then that I wanted to be a doctor and help others," said Danisa. She added that as a child you get mocked about your dream to be a doctor. "It was only in Grade 11 again that I gave it some serious thought after I was asked by my physics teacher what I planned to study after matric. I said food technology, but my teacher said I was capable of studying medicine. I then decided to pursue it. "I applied for medicine and met the minimum requirements, but was rejected. I then went with my second choice which was nursing," said Daniso. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ She began her nursing degree in 2014, but financial struggles threatened to derail her success. Through determination she wrote to the university's vice-chancellor and her gamble paid off. Her first year fees were cleared, and a door opened for a private bursar to fund her studies from second year. NSFAS later funded her final two years. By 2018, she had completed her nursing degree and had to undertake one year of paid community service. She said whilst nursing frustrated her that she didn't understand her patients conditions and how to treat them. "I then decided to apply again for medicine.'I always told my colleagues I was going back to study medicine. I needed to understand more and to participate in the decision-making,' she said. However her bursary conditions required her to work for the sponsoring company for three years after her community service. She started saving and set aside more than two thirds of her salary each month.'I continued living like a student just to save money,' she said. She then repaid the bursar and had some money to register at began her medical degree at UKZN in 2019. "During Covid we were sent home and only returned to campus around June,' she hospitals filled, Daniso took shifts in high-risk wards. 'In December, I worked at a private hospital. I was the nursing sister, working six night shifts a week with just one day off. So many patients died. I still remember some of their faces. I hated the system and how powerless it made us feel,' she said. As a student Daniso held key student leadership positions. 'I felt the need to serve my community and so I served as a student leader. I think I was motivated by all the hardships I had faced as a student. I kept on seeing these gaps that needed to be plugged,' she said. She served on UKZN's SRC. Daniso was also offered a scholarship to study at the University of Graz in Austria for nine weeks. She would like to one day specialise in orthopaedic message to other aspiring doctors is to believe in themselves and never give up on their dream. "Having faith in yourself, hard work and sacrifices will pay off," said Daniso. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
