Beat the queue, get the cure
Nzima learnt from experience, delivers medication to people
When Sizwe Nzima was 17, his grandparents were diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension and he was tasked with collecting their medication from the local clinic.
“Because of overcrowding I experienced the same problem every month (of having to stand in a queue for medication for hours on end) … I saw the problem as (a business) opportunity.”
Five years later, in 2014, Nzima registered a health logistics company, Iyeza Express, which delivers medicine to people’s doorsteps.
“My business idea came from personal experience,” he said. “We are trying to cut down the long process of long queues and waiting hours. We are trying to make sure that people get their medication on their doorsteps where it’s very convenient for them at a very low price that is affordable for the township market.”
Iyeza also provides an HIV test kit that you can order online (www.hivselftesting.co.za) to test your status at home.
“Instead of you going to the GP or clinic to test, you can now order a self-test, collect it from the pharmacy and screen yourself in the comfort of your home … We believe that the first step to combating this HIV problem is to encourage people to know their status.”
Iyeza also offers the services of a product called pill squad, an online pharmacy supplying hormone pills for women.
Iyeza operates in two clinics
‘ ‘ We are trying to cut down long queues, waiting hours
in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, and services about 5 000 patients a month. Nzima employs seven peo ple. “Our plan is to grow into other townships.”
Nzima was raised by his grandparents while his mother worked in Joburg. He matriculated from Harold Cressy High School in 2010.
He then enrolled for a business course at the UCT business school.
Nzima is currently studying for a degree in supply chain and logistics management.
“My goal is to increase access of healthcare, primarily in the public sector because that is where the burden is.
“I would like to grow this model with other young people from other places,” Nzima said.