A doctor with a passion for children

Paediatricians are physicians who treat all aspects of a child’s health care.

They specialise in children, generally from birth through early adulthood and take care of all aspects having to do with children’s medical care, including diet, exercise, immunisations, illnesses and vitamin regimens.

Their education starts when they enter university to become a general practitioner.

After studying for six years, they do two year’s internship at an accredited government hospital followed by one year community service.

During these three years, the medical officer has to apply at a university again as a post graduate.

Dr Tony Zambakides, a paediatrician at the N17 Hospital, says you have to become a doctor before you can specialise.

After nine years of studying, you only become a doctor.

It takes another four years to study to become a paediatrician.

“While waiting for a position, it will help if you can work in a paediatric department as a medical officer,” says Tony.

While studying, the medical officer working at a government hospital will continue to work there, until a position is available in paediatrics.

Post graduates can study at the College of Medicine if not registered at a university.

Tony says, to become a paediatrician, one needs to not only have a passion for children but to have compassion and enjoy what you are doing.

A typical day in the life of a paediatrician is to start doing rounds in the wards to see the patients.

The medical care includes ward rounds, ICU visits, but no operations are done by a paediatrician.

According to government regulations a paediatrician, working for the government, needs to work 80 hours overtime per month excluding your 8am to 4pm shifts.

It takes up to 15 years to qualify as a paediatrician.

Requirements

Biology, mathematics and physical science are necessities at school.

For learners in Grade 12, provisional admission is granted based on the results obtained in the final Grade 11 year mark (promotion mark).

The final Grade 12 results remain the determining factor for admission at a university.

Also note that the achievement of the minimum requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission to any programmes or fields of study.

Cost

The tuition fees vary from institution to institution.

It is approximately R12 000 for undergraduate programmes and for post graduate programmes it is almost R22 000 for per year.

The cost of living is approximately R8 000 per month which is inclusive of accommodation, food, utility bills and travel.

However, this varies with the lifestyle a student wishes to indulge in.

Tony claims if you work with children, you have to be dedicated to your job.

He says in some chronic cases you get attached to the patient.

Children can make you smile, but others are afraid of doctors and it doesn’t matter what you do, they still cry.

“Some even say they are not sick and do not know why they are there,” he says, however, you still try to be as gentle as you possibly can.