Pharmacists play an important role in the world of health and heroes, and pharmacist Jamiela Dalwai is a hero of Groote Schuur who has spent 12 years giving back to the community!
Cape Town, South Africa (14 September 2023) — In the worlds of health and heroes, hospitals like Groote Schuur play an important role. Where the spotlight sometimes sheds light on the incredible work of surgeons, doctors and researchers in the field, pharmacists wear their own unsung capes, and one of them is pharmacist Jamiela Dalwai.
Jamiela has been a pharmacist at Groote Schuur for 12 years and has 20 years of experience under her belt. Reflecting on her time amid Pharmacy Month, Jamiela highlights the parts of the job that fill her heart—especially as a way to be helpful to the community.
For her, working in the public hospital and academic space has meant a lot of learning, an abundance of growth, and no dull moments sticking around. Over and above these personal green flags is a bigger one for Jamiela—the chance to give back to the community as often as possible.
The pharmacist shares that being on the frontlines of giving back is what makes her job so enjoyable, especially in comparison to working as a pharmacist in the private sector.
“Irrespective of a patient’s background or financial status, a patient is entitled to respect and to be given a quality service and to be treated with kindness and compassion so that you’re left having a good experience.
“Here you are seeing the poorest of the poor, whose lives are so affected by illness, that you really feel that you are making a difference when you work here. You’re part of a team that gives a patient a bit of comfort and relief, and I’m very proud to be working at Groote Schuur.”—Jamiela Dalwai.
Jamiela has served the community from various departments and especially loved her time in the Oncology pharmacy where she worked for roughly six years.
She now works in the E10 pharmacy where she has the chance to work with antiretrovirals and antibiotics, and will continue her hero’s path for the community.
As for one Groote Schuur patient who recently celebrated a big moment, Zhara du Toit, the little legend behind a joy-bearing project has finished her radiation treatments!
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