Page 10 - KZN Business Sense 10.1 Page One Shaaz Moosa - CEO Supahot- Ebook

BREAKING BARRIERS WITH BRILLIANCE

n the bustling corridors of fraternity is about more than
UKZN, one medical student just treating symptoms, it’s a
Istands out not just for her calling. I believe in looking at
academic excellence, but for her patients at a psychosocial level
incredible resilience in the face and addressing the underlying
of adversity. Ms Nokubonga issues and making a positive
Sabela is a young woman with impact on their well-being,’
oculocutaneous albinism (visual she said.
impairment) with nystagmus. She Sabela always knew she wanted
has defied the odds to excel in her to be a doctor. Her brother is a
medical studies with the help of a practicing nurse while her older
ground-breaking assistive device, sister is retired from nursing. She
the Prodigi Connect. will become the first doctor in

The device was donated by the her family, when she graduates
UKZN Foundation through the next year.
University’s Disability Support To inspire greatness, Sabela
Unit (DSU). The device is a reaches out mainly through social
combination of a tablet with media and has conversations
specialised software and a stand with patients, including teenage
that enables her to magnify and Medical student, Ms Nokubonga Sabela, uses the Prodigi Connect device mothers, to motivate them and
read textbooks and notes with break the perception that medicine
ease. It has also significantly take notes during high school. along with other adapted tools, time in paediatrics at the Queen is only for certain people.
reduced the strain on her She didn’t have the means to helped her bridge the gap in Nandi Hospital in Empangeni. Despite her success, she
eyes, often caused by reading get a proper diagnosis. Her her academic performance. The One moment which impacted
textbooks with shiny pages for family’s financial constraints device not only opened a world her deeply was when she struggles with imposter
syndrome and often feels like
extended periods of time. also meant she received glasses of possibilities for Sabela, but encountered a young woman
at a later age, exacerbating her also instilled in her a sense of who brought in her child in need she’s not doing enough. However,
The device’s camera feature, visual impairment. worth and confidence. With of resuscitation. she recognises that medicine is
when connected, allows the assistance of the UKZN a continuous learning process,
Sabela to zoom in on what Despite being an exceptional Foundation and the DSU, her Working with a dedicated and her confidence grows with
is projected in lecture halls, student at Velangaye High School grades improved significantly, medical team to resuscitate the each practical experience and
ensuring she doesn’t miss any in Nkandla, and early acceptance and she is now excelling as a baby, and seeing the trust the knowledge gained. She aspires
crucial information during into UKZN to study medicine, final-year medical student. mother placed in them, left a to become a doctor who can
presentations. With the Prodigi she found herself academically profound mark on Sabela. She have a positive impact on
Connect, she navigated her excluded in her second year Sabela loves practicing realised that medicine goes beyond patients’ lives. 
academic challenges with because of poor performance. medicine and interacting with simply treating symptoms.
confidence, making her an This was due to her visual patients at an interpersonal ‘Witnessing the impact of T: +27 (0)31 260 2389
exceptional and top-performing impairment with which she psychosocial level. She is medicine on people’s lives, E: foundation@ukzn.ac.za
medical student. struggled silently. currently rotating in psychiatry especially when they place their W: www.foundation.ukzn.ac.za
at the King Edward Hospital.
Passionate about medicine, hope entirely on healthcare
Sabela, who comes from rural She finds mental health to be
Eshowe, would often sit closer she persevered and returned to complex, but has had memorable professionals, made me realise
UKZN. The Prodigi Connect,
to the chalkboard to see and moments, especially during her that being in the medical

SILVER JUBILEE OF APPRECIATING KZN BUSINESS

he KwaZulu-Natal Top small businesses, as well as the More information on this annual As KwaZulu-Natal is full of This initiative will take the
Business team is proudly government sectors in South prestigious event and the awards leaders who require recognition form of recorded zoom interview,
Tlocal and has successfully Africa. entry categories and criteria will for what they have and will a photographic session and
promoted business in KwaZulu- KZN Top Business has several be made available shortly with achieve. In celebration of our culminate in a hardcover coffee
Natal for the past 25 years. A initiatives underway in 2024. entries opening in March. Each anniversary, the company table book, an ebook, as well as
milestone that founder and CEO year winning an award is much will be producing a KZN Top online profiles. 
Grant Adlam is delighted to be KZN Top Business Portfolio coveted and celebrated. Business Leaders’ Portfolio. “We
celebrating. will strive to recognise some of For more information on participation
The KwaZulu-Natal Top Business KZN Top Business Women these outstanding individuals in these initiatives, please contact Grant
When KZN Top Business opened Portfolio’s ongoing success has in the province. We also want Adlam
its doors, the company was more been achieved through the use of KZN Top Business Women to know their vision for the C: +27 (0)83 262 9529
reliant on the printed word, the a number of methods including a draws together women in the future of their business in KZN,” E: grantadlam01@gmail.com
electronic copy was on a CD-Rom comprehensive and well ranked province who are recognised explained Adlam. W: www.kzntopbusiness.com
and their digital footprint was multimedia website which is for making contributions to
dependent on a static website. KZN well optimised on a variety of business, the local economy
Top Business has now established search engines, an A5 hard copy and their communities. This
itself as a leading communications handbook as well as a digital initiative will be launched in
and content management company version, social media tools and a August 2024.
with full pressroom services. Its growing series of videos. KZN Top Business Leaders’
innovative approach to staying Portfolio
abreast of media trends ensures The portfolio assists in
that a variety of formats are now driving the visibility of brands, “Over the years, we’ve
used including: print, digital, the including growing relationships worked with so many amazing
web, video, email, a variety of social and improving client retention companies, and with some
media platforms as well as is event through targeted content fantastic clients who’ve become
oriented. KZN Top Business’s marketing campaigns. friends,” said Adlam. “During
value-added campaigns ensure that Standard Bank KZN Top this time companies have also
ongoing marketing is undertaken Business Awards come and gone. However, there
for maximum exposure. are some that have much impact
The Standard Bank KZN Top and leave legacies. Without any
Their clients include the Business Awards gala dinner doubt, leadership is the secret to
civil sector, corporate and will be held on the 6 June 2024. their success.”

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