Born and raised in a rural village in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Dr Thandeka Ngcobo witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by her community, particularly the limited access to healthcare. This experience and witnessing the loss of a loved one at a young age ignited a passion within her to pursue a career in medicine and make a difference in the lives of others.
Despite growing up in a disadvantaged background and facing the challenges of being a teenage mother, Ngcobo persevered through medical school with unwavering support from her family, particularly her mother. Her dedication and hard work paid off, and she managed to keep her dream alive.
“I was born and raised in a small village in KZN called Gudwini, near Ixopo. I’m the seventh of eight children born to my mom. Growing up in a big family was amazing. Back then, we didn’t have electricity or running water. On weekends, I would go to the forest to collect firewood with my mom. After school, I would go to the river to collect drinking water.”
Passion for medicine
“I don’t remember my mom working, so my dad was the sole provider, and we had what we needed to survive. When my siblings got older and competed matric they had to find jobs to assist at home, hence only one of my older siblings furthered their studies.
“I saw all the sacrifices my mom made for us to keep our home warm and full of love. I vowed to do my best to make her proud so that one day she could enjoy the fruits of her labour,” Ngcobo says.
Excelling in her studies, she pursued a career in healthcare, attending Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School and later graduating with a bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery (MBChB) from the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine.
“I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor. When choosing subjects, I made sure to choose the STEM discipline (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). I also worked very hard in high school, and my hard work paid off. My second choice, after medicine, was chemical engineering.
“My love for working with people and assisting those in need motivated me to do medicine. Also, where I grew up, seeing a doctor was a luxury. When I also lost my favourite niece on my 13th birthday, I was convinced that I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to try to prevent another family from feeling the pain of losing a loved one.”
Currently residing in Durban and married with two children, Ngcobo works as a family physician in a regional hospital. Her duties include treating patients with chronic illnesses and emergencies.
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‘I love what I do’
Beyond her medical practice, she goes beyond her role as a doctor, actively engaging in public speaking and philanthropy to inspire and empower young people, particularly young women.
“I always say my primary role is not necessarily to save lives but to improve the quality of life for all our patients. On some days, I work in the emergency department unit, where I see trauma cases and other emergencies. On average, I’m at work for eight hours per day, but sometimes 24 hours.
“Yes, my work can be draining at times, especially because I still have to be a mother and a wife at home. However, I absolutely love what I do, and I believe it’s my calling. I don’t mind going the extra mile for my patients.”
“As a young health professional, I’m also always prepared to serve beyond my line of duty to assist, inspire, and empower the nation. I’m a public speaker and a philanthropist. I believe that when other young people see what those ahead of them have achieved, they will be inspired to do even better and have hope that they too are capable.”
Dr Ngcobo was awarded the 2023 Media Health Care Professional (HCP) Educator of the Year award. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi
Becoming a teen mom
Becoming a teenage mother during her matric year was challenging for Ngcobo. She emphasises that if it weren’t for her mother’s support, she wouldn’t have survived teenage pregnancy.
“I fell pregnant in my matric year, so by the time I started university, I was already pregnant and due to have a baby mid-year. Most people say I did great by being able to still fulfill my dream despite having been a teenage mother,” she explains.
“My mother was not happy about my pregnancy but she gave me a second chance when she agreed to raise my daughter while I continued with my studies. Medical school wasn’t a walk in the park, and knowing that I had a baby whom I couldn’t see much of was very difficult. Sometimes when the baby was unwell, I couldn’t be there for her, or when she was admitted, I would miss out on school. I missed witnessing a lot of her milestones as well.”
Ngcobo encourages young people to abstain from sex while still in school, as teenage pregnancy has the potential to disturb one’s education.
“Statistics show that most girls who fall pregnant at a young age are likely to drop out of school. Approximately one-third of teenage mothers return to school. One particular study noted that a delay in returning to school could reduce the likelihood of ever pursuing further education and also reduce school performance.”
“Being a teenage mother can be both emotionally and physically devastating, and it can also have negative outcomes for the health of the mother and baby; for example, low birth weight, premature birth, a higher rate of infant mortality, and a greater risk of cephalopelvic disproportion leading to caesarean delivery.”
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Prepare to work hard
Ngcobo further underlines that medicine is not a path driven by societal expectations or financial gain. It requires immense dedication, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to patient well-being.
“My career is a calling. One should never do medicine because of the status associated with it or because they think they will make money. Medicine is very demanding. Medical school needs you to work hard and be fully focused. When you start working, it doesn’t get any better; the long hours and sleepless nights will make you question yourself about whether you made the right choice.
“You will miss important family gatherings. You will miss funerals and birthdays because you have to save lives. So medicine needs you to be passionate about it and be prepared to sacrifice your time to serve people you might only see once in your life, but know that their wellbeing lies in your hands.”
Overall, she is proud of the opportunity for her mother to witness her graduation and see her become the doctor she has dreamed of becoming since childhood.
“I’m proud that my mom witnessed me become a doctor. I was able to buy my car and be able to drive her to places she wanted to go. Back in our community, we struggled with public transport, and we used to walk long kilometres, so I was proud that I could then drive my mom around whenever I was home. When she was brutally taken away from us four years ago, I felt like I was robbed of more opportunities to show her how grateful I am that she gave me a second chance on the other side of teenage pregnancy.”
Speaking about her vision for the future, Ngcobo says she aspires to be a present and caring mother, advocate for women’s health, and continue inspiring young people to dream big and persevere through challenges.
“I want to be a present mother to my children. I want to build a warm and healthy environment for them. I’m also passionate about youth empowerment and development, so I have registered my foundation, through which I want to continue to inspire greatness and empower other young people.
“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of education. Despite what others might say, it is still one of the most important tools one needs to navigate through life. I also want to encourage young people to always have a dream. When one has a dream, it becomes the driving force in life, which will always propel one to work hard and push against all odds.”
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