Lungile Pepeta
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Lungile Pepeta | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 |
| Died | 7 August 2020 (aged 45–46) Life St George's Hospital, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape |
| Resting place | Bizana, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Alma mater | Walter Sisulu University |
| Occupations | Paediatric cardiologist, medical researcher, educator |
| Known for | Human rights activism |
Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 7 August 2020) was a South African paediatric cardiologist, medical researcher, university professor and activist who also served as the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes. Doctor Pepeta was regarded as one of the pioneers of the medical industry in South Africa especially for his crucial contributions regarding child health care.[1] He also served as the executive dean in the faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University and was the former head of the paediatric department and paediatric cardiology at Dora Nginza Hospital.
Lungile Pepeta was born and raised in Bizana, in the former Transkei, where he spent most of his life.[citation needed]
Career
In 1997, Pepeta completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at the Walter Sisulu University and obtained his diploma in child health care in 1999. He also completed a Master of medicine in Paediatrics from the University of Witwatersrand and was a fellowship holder of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.[2]
He qualified as a paediatrician in 2003, specialising in the field of paediatric cardiology since 2008. In 2009, he established Port Elizabeth's first paediatric cardiology unit at the provincial Dora Nginza Hospital and was appointed as head of the paediatrics department at Dora Nginza in 2010. He also introduced non-invasive procedures to cure the heart disorders and defects such as congenital heart disorder faced by children in the Eastern Cape. He also mentored and trained many doctors, especially related to the field of paediatrics.[3]
In January 2017, he joined the faculty of Health Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth and became the executive dean of the faculty. He also became a member of the Council of Medical Schemes in November 2017.[4]
In June 2020, he was elected as the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes, eventually replacing Clarence Mini who died on 12 May 2020 due to COVID-19. He was also roped in as a member of a 15-member jury panel of experts advising the committee to the provincial government's COVID-19 taskforce.[5]