Just what the doctor ordered
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits medical student, Raheema Adam speaks frankly about the pressure medical professionals face and why she chose this line of work.
In her religion, Raheema Adam, is taught that saving one life is equivalent to saving all of humanity. A fitting belief to follow for a final year Wits medical student. The Northcliff Melville Times spent some time with this future doctor to find out just why this profession is for her, just what the doctor ordered.
Originally from Gqeberha, Raheema recently completely a paediactric rotation at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. As part of their medical degree, student doctors will, in their fifth and sixth year, do five-week rotations at different hospitals where they will work in varying specialities. Thereafter, they will spend another two years completing an internship that will be followed by community service and after that they choose what they will specialise in. “God willing though, I will end off the year having attained my degree and the title of doctor to my name,” she said with hope in her eyes and a smile.
Her need to always want to help people led her straight to medicine. “Medicine allows you, on a daily basis, to help people and you get to interact with people which I love. In the beginning stages of studying medicine it is very theory based and there you might question your path but when you get into your clinical years and you get to meet patients, and spend time with them, that’s when you really starts to solidify that this is where you meant to be.”
She hoped people would come to learn that with health professionals, and importantly medical students, there is a huge number of mental health illnesses generally. “Though it is more heightened during Covid-19, mental health issues among health professionals is generally
overlooked.” Adding the public seldom understands the pressure that comes with having a patient you are responsible for and any mistake, big or small, changes the person’s life. Raheema shared that although medical students might look all put together and tied up neatly, that it is not the case and the important thing is for everyone just to be kind. “Even though we get through it, medical school is one of the toughest times.”
One thing she believes in is that one does small things, with great love, “Every day, by just making one patient smile I feel like I have made my day.” She added that in her career she hopes to be someone who is there for the people, “If my patients are able to come to me and tell me everything about their life, making them feel at ease, as everything affects their well-being.
“Health, and education around it, is very important, if we can empower our people and teach them about their own health, as it is a building block, and so much of this can affect the rest of one’s life.
“For instance, if a child is malnourished before the age of three that will affect their school performance and IQ levels. So if we can solve the bigger problems but at the same time remembering that each individual is different, that would be great.
