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Sindisiwe van Zyl

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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
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20220102021735/https://drsindi.co.za/

Sindisiwe van Zyl (née Mahamba-Sithole; 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]

Early life and education

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Malan, Mia. "TRIBUTE | Sindi van Zyl, the doctor who never stopped caring". News24. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Sindi van Zyl – 2012". ysa.mg.co.za. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  12. ^ a b "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. ^ "Medical fraternity mourns 'passionate, dedicated' Dr Sindi van Zyl". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  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.
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