Lungile Pepeta

Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 7 August 2020) was a South African paediatric cardiologist, medical researcher, university professor and activist who also served as the former chairman of the Council of Medical Schemes. Lungile was regarded as one of the pioneers of the medical industry in South Africa especially for his crucial contributions regarding child health care and was regarded as one of the prominent public servants of the healthcare system.[1] He also served as the executive dean on the faculty of the Health Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University and as the former head of the paediatric department and paediatric cardiology at the Dora Nginza Hospital.

Lungile Pepeta
Born1974
Died7 August 2020(2020-08-07) (aged 45–46)
Life St George's Hospital, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Resting placeBizana, Eastern Cape, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Alma materWalter Sisulu University
OccupationPaediatric cardiologist, human rights activist, medical researcher, educator

Biography

Lungile Pepeta was born and raised in Bizana, Eastern Cape where he spent most of his life.

Career

In 1997, he pursued and completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at the Walter Sisulu University and obtained his diploma in the child health care in 1999. He also completed the 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 became a qualified paediatrician in 2003 and became a qualified paediatric cardiologist in 2008 after being specialised in the field of paediatric cardiology. In 2009, he established Port Elizabeth's first paediatric cardiology unit at the provincial hospital Dora Nginza Hospital and was appointed as the head of the paediatrics department at the Dora Nginza Hospital in 2010. He also introduced non invasive procedures to cure the heart disorders and defects such as the congenital heart disorder faced by the children in Eastern Cape. He also mentored and trained many doctors especially related to the field of paediatrics.

In January 2017, he joined the faculty on the 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.[3]

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 the COVID-19. He was also roped in as a member of a 15-member jury panel of experts advising committee to the provincial government's COVID-19 taskforce.[4]

Death

He was hospitalized at the Life St George's Hospital in June 2020 and was later revealed to have contracted the coronavirus. He died on 7 August 2020 due to the COVID-19 complications at the age of 46.[5][6][7] Until his death, he served as chairman of the CMS as well as the executive dean at the Nelson Mandela University. He was pursuing a PhD in paediatrics from the University of Stellenbosch prior to his death.[8]

The funeral was held with category 2 special official provincial respect on 12 August 2020 in Bizana.[3][9]

References
  1. "'I hope in heaven you are still a trailblazer': Lungile Pepeta laid to rest". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  2. "Lungile Pepeta - Executive Dean of Pediatric Cardiology in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa | eMedEvents". www.emedevents.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  3. "Mkhize mourns paediatric cardiologist Lungile Pepeta, who died from Covid-19". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  4. News, Eyewitness. "CMS chairperson professor Lungile Pepeta dies of COVID-19". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  5. "Professor Lungile Pepeta has passed away". SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  6. "Rest in power Prof Lungile Pepeta". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  7. Ellis, Estelle. "A giant tree has fallen: Prof Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 2020)". Maverick Citizen. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  8. "Council for Medical Schemes chairman Pepeta dies of Covid-19". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  9. "Condolences for family of renowned paediatric cardiologist who died from Covid-19". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
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