Messages of condolences have been pouring in from far and wide following the death of a pioneering specialist children’s doctor.
Mthatha’s first black paediatrician, professor Zandisile Michael Nazo, 65, died on August 1 after suffering a stroke. At the time of his death, Nazo was the head of the paediatric unit at Nelson Mandela Central Hospital (NMCH) and also headed the medicine faculty at Walter Sisulu University.
With nearly 30 years’ experience, Nazo earned the respect of his contemporaries who described him as a “visionary” who had left an indelible mark.
CEO of the NMCH, Nomalanga Makwedini, said Nazo’s death was a “big loss” and left a massive void.
Nazo started his career at Livingstone Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay in 1988 and moved to Mthatha General Hospital in 1989 before spreading his wings in 1992 as an academic following his appointment as a senior lecturer at then University of Transkei in 1992.
Between 1996 and 2000, Nazo worked at his own private practice but continued to work as a consultant for the hospital and the tertiary institution. He returned as a full-time specialist in charge of the neo-natal unit and the ICU from 2004.
Four years later, he was promoted to chief specialist and took up a post as head of department at NMCH and subsequently Unitra.
“We have lost a visionary and talented person who has contributed a lot to children’s lives,” said Makwedini.
She said Nazo and professor Sithembiso Velaphi were co-founding members of a project, launched in August, that imparted knowledge on how to resuscitate new-born babies.
Nazo’s memorial service will be held at the Walter Sisulu University Auditorium in Mthatha tomorrow at 2pm.
His funeral service will be held at the Quigney Baptist Church in East London on Saturday from 9am. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Tributes pour in for ‘visionary’ Mthatha doctor
Mthatha’s first black paediatrician, professor Zandisile Michael Nazo, 65, died on August 1 after suffering a stroke. At the time of his death, Nazo was the head of the paediatric unit at Nelson Mandela Central Hospital (NMCH) and also headed the medicine faculty at Walter Sisulu University.
With nearly 30 years’ experience, Nazo earned the respect of his contemporaries who described him as a “visionary” who had left an indelible mark.
CEO of the NMCH, Nomalanga Makwedini, said Nazo’s death was a “big loss” and left a massive void.
Nazo started his career at Livingstone Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay in 1988 and moved to Mthatha General Hospital in 1989 before spreading his wings in 1992 as an academic following his appointment as a senior lecturer at then University of Transkei in 1992.
Between 1996 and 2000, Nazo worked at his own private practice but continued to work as a consultant for the hospital and the tertiary institution. He returned as a full-time specialist in charge of the neo-natal unit and the ICU from 2004.
Four years later, he was promoted to chief specialist and took up a post as head of department at NMCH and subsequently Unitra.
“We have lost a visionary and talented person who has contributed a lot to children’s lives,” said Makwedini.
She said Nazo and professor Sithembiso Velaphi were co-founding members of a project, launched in August, that imparted knowledge on how to resuscitate new-born babies.
Nazo’s memorial service will be held at the Walter Sisulu University Auditorium in Mthatha tomorrow at 2pm.
His funeral service will be held at the Quigney Baptist Church in East London on Saturday from 9am. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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