Broadcasting the Benefits of Natural Health

A serious childhood respiratory illness and her grandfather’s fervent pursuit of natural remedies spurred Dr Jabulile Cresancia Ngobese-Ngubane (40) to become a registered homeopath and natural health communication specialist who educates seven million radio listeners a week on healthy and natural living.

Ngobese-Ngubane considers her ability to teach and advise so many people about health to be her greatest career achievement. “If I can teach a few that nature is good and that the greatest investment that they can make for themselves is good health, then I have not lived in vain.”

Besides being on the radio, she also dispenses health tips and answers health-related queries on behalf of South African Natural Products via Whatsapp and email messages. She travels all over the country talking about different health topics and inspiring people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. She is also responsible for developing and executing their communication strategy, meeting with stakeholders, teaching face-to-face at the Living Naturally Academy and training on products. If it were not for Estie

We are blessed to be a blessing to others and that’s where we get more blessed. We are created in the image of God and I have to see myself the way God sees me because that’s the only eye that matters.

Dr Jabulile Ngobese-Ngubane DUT Master of Health Sciences (homeopathy) graduate

Schrieber, this dream would have not been realised sooner (she’s the Chief Marketing Oficer of the company).

“God gave us each what we are good at. I am passionate about what I do – where there is no fire, I can’t thrive,” enthused Ngobese-Ngubane.

Born and raised by her God-fearing grandparents and mother in Babanango, Northern KZN, NgobeseNgubane’s first seven years of her life were fraught with lengthy stays in hospital intensive care because of a respiratory condition. “My grandfather would put natural remedies together to assist in my condition, and it was his knowledge and drive that propelled me to want to become a doctor.”

Ngobese-Ngubane was only able to begin school at the age of eight while staying with her aunt in Esikhawini. After matriculating in 1997 from Khula Secondary School, she helped her uncle at Qalakabusha Prison as a kiosk attendant in Empangeni for a year. This taught her to be resilient, fearless and bold, and to view life through different lenses.

Her decision to pursue a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Homeopathy at DUT came from seeing her cousin healed from a gum problem that specialists couldn’t cure with one consultation at the then Technikon Natal Homeopathy Clinic.

Her time at DUT was extremely challenging: the shock of leaving a sheltered upbringing, the challenging modules, the financial stress and the belief of some lecturers that Homeopathy was not designed for black students. “I had to make a decision to either believe these words or prove them wrong, prove my worth and make a name for myself and to those who would follow that it was doable.”

She became the first black student to pass all her modules from first year till master’s level without failing a module, which back then was challenging. During her studies in 2004, she began working for DUT as a clinic assistant at the Ukuba Nesibindi Homeopathic Community Health Centre where she worked without remuneration for two years. In 2006, she was officially employed on a threeyear contract to lecture isiZulu at DUT’s Homeopathy Department. She was then promoted to Head Clinician at the Ukuba Nesibindi Homoeopathic Community Health Centre. In 2009, she procured a full-time lecturer

I aspire to inspire before I expire. – Eugene Bell Jr.

position on DUT’s Faculty of Health Sciences committee, was a first-year level coordinator, mentored students and also served on the Equity and Transformation Committee.

She has also been offered the position of Chairperson of the Employment Equity committee where she currently works, which is another achievement she’s proud of, especially after only working for the company for less than a year.

Fond memories of her time at DUT encompass meeting her husband (Zwakele Ngubane, Director for Advancement and Alumni Relations Department), receiving a free dictionary as a first-year student in 1999 (which she still treasures today) and being able to befriend and inspire the late Dr Euvette Taylor. “DUT has been the greatest platform for me where I found my inner strength and potential. I would choose this institution over and over again with all its challenges that it imposed on me; I would still choose it.”

Outside of work, Ngobese-Ngubane always puts her family first. “Other things are replaceable but not family, therefore, that which is irreplaceable I honour and invest in greatly, just like life. I want them to grow up remembering that I was here, I lived, loved and made a mark and was not apologetic and regretful of anything.”

She has been happily married for 11 years and has two daughters Iminami (7) and Elenkosi (8). “I am tasking them already with reaching their greatness in all areas of their lives: the way they carry themselves, think of themselves and relate to others. I am showing them how to pursue greatness and not be a carbon copy of anyone else.”

Ngobese-Ngubane is also involved in her church’s children’s ministry, offers support to those who come

from broken homes, and is a proud donor to the Missing Middle campaign and other DUT charitable activities. “Simply DUT for life!” she enthused.

She has also been asked to write weekly newsletters for Durban Christian Centre since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. These are aimed at equipping church members and their communities (adults and children) to stay safe and healthy during this period. “Children are often forgotten – they too have been affected in this dramatic change of life as they know it,” she enthused. “Children are robust in spirit, even though they may not be physically strong, so reminding them of who they are and what they are capable of and that every child is a masterpiece changes their view of life.”

NGOBESE-NGUBANE’S TIPS FOR KEEPING HEALTHY

Invest in your health – it is your wealth. Any sickness or ill health may rob you of earning what you are worth.

Choices we make today about the way we eat will reflect what our future will look like. The body of a young person forgives a multitude of sins but when you age, it starts reminding you what and how you used to treat it.

Don’t underestimate the importance of pure water intake. Maintain health using naturally-occurring substances. Synthetic chemicals overwhelm the body with too many toxins that will cause early ageing and life-threatening conditions.

Try to eat food as fresh as possible. If it’s not found in nature like that or can’t be made in your kitchen then it’s questionable if it should be consumed. Plan your life accordingly and avoid procrastination. Deal with stress and find the cause as early as possible to avoid catastrophe later. Do yearly screenings, especially for conditions that run in the family. Anything that is diagnosed early may have a better prognosis than that which has been left too late. Love and love more, even if circumstances dictate otherwise because you are trying to produce nature’s healing chemicals in your body, which you are in control of. The body has the greatest ability to repair and recover but needs proper nutrients and a healthy lifestyle to maintain this. Therefore, live well. Eat right and live alive!