Onazo Daniso's inspiring journey to becoming a doctor
Onazo Daniso, a 29-year-old nurse from Lusikisiki, has achieved her dream of becoming a doctor after overcoming significant challenges, including financial hardships and the emotional toll of working during the Covid pandemic.
Newly graduated doctor Onazo Daniso
Image: Sethu Dlamini
From a nursing sister to a doctor, Onazo Daniso's dream of obtaining a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree is now a reality.
Daniso, 29, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, cum laude, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Formerly from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, Daniso balanced life as a medical student by day and a part-time nurse by night.
Currently an intern at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Durban, Daniso's cum laude pass reflects an academic average of at least 75% across all her modules.
She spent years juggling work, study, student leadership, financial hardship, and the emotional trauma of working frontline during the Covid pandemic.
“I have always wanted to be a doctor. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I love my job. Growing up in Lusikisiki the hospitals and clinics were far. It was a struggle for most people to access healthcare. I knew then that I wanted to be a doctor and help others," said Danisa.
She added that as a child you get mocked about your dream to be a doctor.
"It was only in Grade 11 again that I gave it some serious thought after I was asked by my physics teacher what I planned to study after matric. I said food technology, but my teacher said I was capable of studying medicine. I then decided to pursue it.
"I applied for medicine and met the minimum requirements, but was rejected. I then went with my second choice which was nursing," said Daniso.
She began her nursing degree in 2014, but financial struggles threatened to derail her success.
Through determination she wrote to the university’s vice-chancellor and her gamble paid off. Her first year fees were cleared, and a door opened for a private bursar to fund her studies from second year.
NSFAS later funded her final two years.
By 2018, she had completed her nursing degree and had to undertake one year of paid community service.
She said whilst nursing frustrated her that she didn't understand her patients conditions and how to treat them.
"I then decided to apply again for medicine.“I always told my colleagues I was going back to study medicine. I needed to understand more and to participate in the decision-making,” she said.
However her bursary conditions required her to work for the sponsoring company for three years after her community service.
She started saving and set aside more than two thirds of her salary each month.“I continued living like a student just to save money,” she said.
She then repaid the bursar and had some money to register at UKZN.She began her medical degree at UKZN in 2019.
"During Covid we were sent home and only returned to campus around June,” she said.As hospitals filled, Daniso took shifts in high-risk wards.
“In December, I worked at a private hospital. I was the nursing sister, working six night shifts a week with just one day off. So many patients died. I still remember some of their faces. I hated the system and how powerless it made us feel,” she said.
As a student Daniso held key student leadership positions.
“I felt the need to serve my community and so I served as a student leader. I think I was motivated by all the hardships I had faced as a student. I kept on seeing these gaps that needed to be plugged,” she said.
She served on UKZN's SRC.
Daniso was also offered a scholarship to study at the University of Graz in Austria for nine weeks.
She would like to one day specialise in orthopaedic surgery.Her message to other aspiring doctors is to believe in themselves and never give up on their dream.
"Having faith in yourself, hard work and sacrifices will pay off," said Daniso.