Businesswoman makes difference in health sector
SUNNINGHILL – Neliswa Dladla juggles being a businesswoman and being a single parent
Women’s Month may be over but it’s fitting to take our hats off to Neliswa Dladla, a businesswoman who juggles bettering the well-being of South Africans and being a single mother to a 14-year-old boy.
Dladla is a 34-year-old, originally from rural Impendle in Pietermaritzburg, who currently lives in Sunninghill, Johannesburg.
She plays an integral part in public health research and implementations of health programmes.
Growing up in Impendle, Dladla had a special dream. “From a very young age my dream was to be a social worker, I wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves.”
She indeed made her dream come true and 10 times better by arming herself with a master’s degree in population studies along with her bachelor’s degree in social work and a diploma in project management.
Her interest in the public health sector started at the end of her junior degree. “My passion for public health research started in my fourth year of studies towards my social work degree. I had to do a short research report and therefore had to do a lot of literature review while I was trying to decide what my short paper will be on.”
Today, Dladla is the Gauteng regional manager for Epicentre, an organisation that focuses on public health research and implements programmes across the country.
As far as the youth is concerned she said, “My advice to young ones who would like to go into public health research would be that they need to be people who like and enjoy reading to be part of this field as information/ data and statistics evolves all the time.
“There’s a lot of research being done out there and it’s important to ensure that you are well knowledgeable of current developments.
“Also, you need to have a passion for the health of the SA population and therefore you will invest your all in playing a key role to developing research which will add to the body of knowledge.”
She concluded, “Women should support each other and always strive for greatness. Remain focused on your goals, work hard and enjoy the journey towards achieving your dreams.”
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