Award: Excellence in Community/Social Impact (C3)

Recipient: Ms Anelisa Mzamo
An interview with the Excellence in Community/Social Impact award recipient, Ms Anelisa Mzamo

1. What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally?
(We are curious about how it resonates with your journey and how you hope it might encourage others.)

I am truly honoured to have received such an award. Receiving such an award really cements the notion that the work I am doing matters and makes a difference. Receiving an award from the place where it all started is such a full-circle moment. I am truly grateful to the Nelson Mandela University for the recognition and nod.

2. Looking back, is there a moment or contribution in your nursing career that you feel especially proud of?
(It could be a breakthrough, a turning point, or something that made a lasting difference.)

My nursing career has been filled with both challenges and great rewards. I have had a few pivotal moments in my nursing journey, the first being the decision to pursue a career in public health. This decision came after I saw that my volunteer work and the work I was doing in that clinic was only able to reach only one community. If I wanted to really bring about change, then I needed to aim for a seat at a bigger table, and be amongst the individuals who influence legislature in public health.

September 2025 has really been a big month for my career, because I attended my first SA AIDS conference and received an award from NMU. These were both big moments in my career and propelled me a step further into accomplishing my dream.

3. Who has been an important mentor in your nursing career?
(We would love to hear about someone who helped shape your path.)

Quite a few nurses have shaped the way I see nursing and how I have positioned myself within the nursing fraternity, two of them being Mr Samuel Thela and Mr Sonwabile Marogo. They have inspired me to take up space within the public health space and to continuously develop myself.

4. What motivates you in your nursing career?
(Whether it is the people, the challenges, or the purpose, what keeps you going?)

For me, motivation comes from the many lives I’ve touched and the patients who come back healthier than they were when they first walked through that consultation door. It is a privilege to be able to be trusted with a life during a health emergency. I do not take that lightly.

5. How do you keep your practice fresh and informed in a field that is always evolving?
(Feel free to share how you engage with new knowledge, research, or teaching.)

I am constantly engaging with the latest guidelines and utilising platforms such as Knowledge Hub to do short courses. I believe such platforms are great tools that nurses can use to sharpen their skills and keep up with the latest research. 

It is also imperative to advance oneself through formal education. This is why I recently completed my Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management, and I am currently doing my Master’s in Health Sciences. These skills will enable me to work towards my career goals.

6. What is next for you? Are there any goals or hopes you are working toward in your professional journey?
(We are interested in what growth or impact you are aiming for, whether big or small.)

I am currently at a pivotal point in my nursing career. One chapter, the NGO space, is closing, and another chapter is starting. These are indeed trying times, but also, I am excited about venturing into this new space of telehealth. The integration of AI and public health has the potential to improve access to healthcare and to improve health outcomes.

The ultimate goal is to have a seat on the Board of the World Health Organization. I believe this will enable me to have a positive impact on global public health.