Sindisiwe van Zyl

Sindisiwe van Zyl (née Masunda; 3 April 1976 – 10 April 2021), was a Zimbabwean-born South African[3][4][5] physician, radio DJ, columnist, health activist and researcher known for using social and mainstream media to share HIV-related, mental health, reproductive health, other medical and public health information.[6][7][8][9][1][10] She won several awards for her work.[11][12] Because of her extensive public health advocacy, she was known as "the people's doctor".[13][14]

Doreen Sindisiwe van Zyl
Born(1976-04-03)3 April 1976
Salisbury, Rhodesia
(now Harare, Zimbabwe)
Died10 April 2021(2021-04-10) (aged 45)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Other namesSindi, Dr Sindi, Doc Sindi
CitizenshipSouth African
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria (BSc, MB ChB)
Occupation(s)Physician, radio DJ, columnist
Spouse
Marinus van Zyl
​
​
(m. 2004; died 2021)​
Children2
Parents
Websitedrsindi.co.za

Early life and education

Van Zyl was born on 3 April 1976 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe).[15] For secondary education she attended Arundel School.[16] For tertiary education she attended the University of Pretoria, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in human physiology and psychology and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree.[17] Dr Sindisiwe Van Zyl interned at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.[18] In 2004, she married Marinus van Zyl.[19]

Career

She used Twitter, mainly, to inform and engage about HIV particularly prevention of mother-to-child transmission. She also appeared frequently on TV, radio and other media platforms.[10] She shared about her personal journey with depression and physician burnout.[20][7] Dr. van Zyl chronicled how she lost 41 kg while on a Banting diet.[21] She was a natural short sleeper requiring about 4 hours of sleep per night while functioning normally.[22] Her scientific research has included guidelines to support HIV-affected individuals and couples to achieve pregnancy safely[23] and COVID-19 and HIV co-infection.[24] She held various roles in the South African Medical Association.[25] She was a member of Médecins Sans Frontières Southern Africa's Board of directors.[26] Because of her extensive public health advocacy, she was known as "the people's doctor".[1]

Her media affiliations included:

Death

On 10 April 2021, she died at the age of 45 from COVID-19.[34][35] Her funeral was on 15 April 2021. Memorials of Dr Sindi included people posting themselves on social media wearing dresses with pockets, which was her signature style.[36][37]

Awards and honors

References
  1. Mthethwa, Ayanda (11 April 2021). "OBITUARY: Health activist, the people's doctor, Sindi van Zyl 'gave us a light to look up to'". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  2. Juma, Ali (18 September 2018). "'Happy memories coming through:' Doctor shares how she overcame mom's loss". Briefly. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  3. "South Africa passport". Twitter. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. "South Africa citizen". Twitter. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. Green, Andrew (June 2021). "Sindisiwe van Zyl". The Lancet. 397 (10292): 2330. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01322-2. PMID 34147147.
  6. "The Local Doctors Are At Your Service - O, The Oprah Magazine". www.oprahmag.co.za. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. "Healthy Lifestyle : Mental health and psychosocial disorders". 702. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  8. "SAMA Insider". November 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  9. "Advocacy through social media #AngryBlacks". The Mail & Guardian. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  10. Malan, Mia. "TRIBUTE | Sindi van Zyl, the doctor who never stopped caring". News24. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. "Sindi van Zyl – 2012". ysa.mg.co.za. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  12. "And the 2018 GLAMOUR Women of the Year are..." www.glamour.co.za. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  13. Zulu, Sifiso. "'A beacon of light who gave endlessly' - Dr Sindi van Zyl remembered". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. "Sindi van Zyl: The 'people's doctor' who revealed her own struggles". BBC News. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  15. "Getting To Know: Dr Sindi van Zyl - CliffCentral". CliffCentral. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  16. "Zim media review". Twitter. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  17. "#WomenInHealth: an interview with medical practitioner Dr Sindiswe van Zyl - LODOX". LODOX. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  18. Zyl, Dr Sindisiwe van. "Memories of an intern who worked with HIV patients in Soweto". The M&G Online. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  19. "What's the colour of love?". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  20. "Landisa: I am a doctor in Gauteng, and who is supposed to help me when I have burnout?". News24. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  21. "Lose It! Magazine Volume 15 2016 issue – Get your digital copy". Magzter. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  22. Mohan, Pavithra (9 August 2019). "I'm one of the rare few who needs only 4 hours of sleep per night". Fast Company. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  23. Davies, Natasha E. C. G.; Ashford, Gail; Bekker, Linda-Gail; Chandiwana, Nomathemba; Cooper, Diane; Dyer, Silker J.; Jankelowitz, Lauren; Mhlongo, Otty; Mnyani, Coceka N.; Mulaudzi, Muhangwi B.; Moorhouse, Michelle (18 October 2018). "Guidelines to support HIV-affected individuals and couples to achieve pregnancy safely: Update 2018". Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine. 19 (1): 26. doi:10.4102/sajhivmed.v19i1.915. ISSN 2078-6751. PMC 6244351. PMID 30473876.
  24. Masukume, Gwinyai; Mapanga, Witness; Grinberg, Sagy; Zyl, Doreen S. van (2021). "COVID-19 and HIV co-infection an emerging consensus". Journal of Medical Virology. 93 (1): 170–171. doi:10.1002/jmv.26270. ISSN 1096-9071. PMC 7361738. PMID 32633849.
  25. News, Eyewitness. "Medical fraternity mourns 'passionate, dedicated' Dr Sindi van Zyl". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. "In Memoriam | Dr Sindi van Zyl, former MSF Southern Africa Board member". MSF Southern Africa. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  27. "7 frequently asked questions about ARVs". Health24. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  28. Choma. "Depression Q&A with Dr Sindi". choma.co.za. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  29. "Search - Choma". choma.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  30. "Dr. Sindi van Zyl Joins Kaya FM Taking Over From Mapaseka Mokwele". KAYA FM. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  31. FM, Kaya. "Sidebar with Sindi". iono.fm. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  32. "RIP Dr Sindi Van Zyl: South Africa lost 'such a great Queen'". The South African. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  33. Engelbrecht, Leandra. "7de Laan pays tribute to Dr Sindi van Zyl". Channel. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  34. "Dr Sindi dies aged 45 after two-month fight for life in hospital". Times Live. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  35. "Popular doctor and broadcaster Sindi van Zyl succumbs to COVID-19". SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  36. Nyathi, Ayanda. "Funeral of much-loved Dr Sindi van Zyl under way in Johannesburg". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  37. "Katlego Danke remembers Dr Sindi van Zyl with #DresswithPockets tribute". DispatchLIVE. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  38. "Tonight, we honor and recognize Dr. Sindi van Zyl, the People's Doctor, the Duchess of Healing, with the posthumous #AHAIC2023 Women in Global Health Award". Twitter. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.