Dr N Rampersad

15/08/2025

24/07/2025

Thousands wait. Few survive.

In South Africa’s public hospitals, children and adults with life-threatening heart conditions sit on waiting lists that are far too long.

Many of them never get their turn.

At the Heart in Hands Foundation, we step in where the system can’t — providing life-saving heart surgeries to those who need them most.

Every donation, every share, every act of kindness brings us closer to saving another life.

Don’t wait for tragedy to strike. Help us act now.

👉 Donate | Share | Save a life

24/07/2025

They’re not just patients. They’re people with dreams, families, and stories.
Help us bring heart surgeries to those who would otherwise never get the chance.
👉 Be the reason someone gets a second chance at life.

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15/05/2025

Dr Hansraj Mangray Makes History as UKZN’s First PhD Graduate in Paediatric Surgery

In a momentous milestone for both UKZN and the field of paediatric surgery in South Africa, Dr Hansraj Mangray has become the first PhD graduate in the Paediatric Surgery Discipline since the founding of UKZN in 2004.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Durban, Mangray’s journey to academic and surgical excellence began at Earlington Secondary School. With parents who had limited formal education but a deep belief in the power of learning, he was encouraged from a young age to pursue Higher Education. The challenges he witnessed in the public healthcare system - such as waiting for many hours at clinics and sometimes not seeing a doctor at all - sparked a personal mission to serve and change the system from within.

‘My parents instilled the value of education in us, even though they didn’t have the opportunity to study. I decided to pursue Medicine because I saw first-hand how desperate the need for care was in our communities,’ Mangray reflected.

Read more: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol13-Issue13-chs-grad/Dr%20Hansraj%20Mangray%20Makes%20History%20as%20UKZNs%20First%20PhD%20Graduate%20in%20Paediatric%20Surgery/

03/04/2025

Join us at the Ward 25 Wellness Day this Saturday, 5 April, at Settlers Park from 10am.

In partnership with SAPS and the Ward 25 War Room, we’ll be offering free wellness checks for seniors, sharing safety advice, and discussing how we’re working to keep the community secure.
All senior citizens are welcome—come connect, learn, and raise your concerns in a supportive space.

Let’s build a safer, healthier Ward 25 together.

31/03/2025

Eid Burarak to everyone celebrating 🤲

15/02/2025

BREAKING NEWS

INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR UKZN PAEDIATRICS PROFESSOR

Professor Rajendra Bhimma, who is Head of the Paediatric Kidney Clinical Unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), which is affiliated to UKZN, has been awarded the International Society of Nephrology’s (ISN) Fellowship designation in recognition of his distinguished professional career and contributions to the field.

ISN Membership Manager Ms Miriam Ravelo Gonzalez made the official announcement at the World Congress of Nephrology (WCN) in New Delhi on Friday.

‘It is wonderful to see one of our nephrologists receiving such prestigious international recognition,’ said the Academic Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Africa Health Research Institute faculty member Professor Refiloe Masekela. ‘Professor Bhimma has made significant contributions to paediatric nephrology, particularly in the field of HIV nephropathy, and it is gratifying to see his work being acknowledged. As UKZN continues to pursue internationalisation as a key goal, this achievement further highlights the University's presence on the global stage.’

Bhimma holds an MBChB from the former University of Natal, a PhD in Paediatrics and Child Health, and has completed specialised training in paediatric nephrology, earning the ISN Fellowship in 1999. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the David Hepburn Award and several Medical Research Council grants for his research on kidney diseases in children. He has also been recognised for his significant contributions to the medical field, and was named one of South Africa's top 100 achievers by The Mail & Guardian in 2003.

Bhimma is celebrated for his leadership, which extends to international and national bodies, including the International Paediatric Nephrology Association; and is an Executive Member of the South African Nephrology Society and President and Executive Member of the Southern African Hypertension Society.

His expertise is frequently sought, with appointments as an examiner for various academic institutions and as a reviewer for research grants and scientific journals. His research work has been widely published, focusing on paediatric nephrology and other related fields, solidifying his reputation as a leading expert.

‘I am deeply honoured to receive the International Society of Nephrology Fellowship award. This award is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the incredible support and guidance I've received throughout my journey as a paediatric nephrologist,’ said Bhimma. ‘I am profoundly grateful to my mentors, the late Professor Hoosen Mohamed Coovadia and now retired Professor Miriam Adhikari, my dedicated students, my patients, and my family, who have been instrumental in my professional growth,’ he said.

Bhimma was commended by captains of industry, including his peer, Paediatric Pulmonologist and Head of Paediatric ICU and Pulmonology, Professor Prakash Jeena, who said: ‘Congratulations on this prestigious award, which you sincerely deserve! I am so proud to have known you and witnessed your high-quality research output at UKZN.’