“People can’t prevent diseases they don’t understand or know about.”
Dr Lethukwenama Letsoalo believes health education is about more than sharing medical facts; it is about equipping people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their bodies and their lives.
A medical doctor, Chevening Scholar and public health specialist, she has carved out a space at the intersection of medicine, health communication and digital media, using accessible, evidence-based information to challenge misconceptions and make important health conversations easier to navigate.
With training from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and experience that extends beyond the consulting room, Dr Letsoalo brings a broader perspective to South Africa’s healthcare challenges.
In this TJR 100 Creators feature, she reflects on the responsibility of communicating health information, the misconceptions she hopes to change and her vision for a better-informed, healthier South Africa.
Who is Dr Lethukwenama Letsoalo beyond being a medical doctor, health communicator and digital creator?
I’m a girl from eBergvile in KZN who absolutely loves her family and hometown. Everywhere I go, whether that’s London, Stellenbosch or DC, people will know I come from Bergville and have six brothers.
My family makes me so happy, supports me and keeps me grounded. I’m also an avid runner and netball player. I come alive when I’m outdoors, in nature and trying to catch my breath from exercise.
Since you started creating health content, what has surprised you most about the response from people — and has hearing their stories or seeing how they engage with your content changed the way you understand the communities you serve?
I’ve noticed that there has been a growing mistrust of the healthcare system. This is largely due to historical injustices, the commercialisation of healthcare and misinformation.
When I share health information that may challenge common beliefs, this is usually met with mixed reactions with some willing to question certain beliefs and others staunch on prior knowledge. I always do my best to share the most accurate and evidence-based information.
When I am challenging beliefs, I ensure this is delivered in an engaging way that doesn’t ostracise or polarise people. You have to meet people where they are and acknowledge their perspectives, even when you don’t agree.
Health misinformation spreads rapidly on social media, particularly around sexual and reproductive health. How do you correct harmful myths without alienating the very people you are trying to educate?
It’s unfortunate that inaccurate information, mostly by people who aren’t healthcare professionals, is favoured more by platform algorithms; this is not the case for evidence based content.
What has helped me reach people with SRH content is walking them through the journey from the beginning, from understanding the anatomy, physiology, and then how disease may happen (pathophysiology).
I am then able to offer a perspective on how we approach conditions as healthcare professionals, treatments, daily habits. When you know and understand how a body functions works and regulates itself, you can then understand the treatment plan better.
This formula works, that’s how I studied when I was in medical school, and that’s how I now structure my content that I share online.
You are a Chevening Scholar with public health training from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. How did studying internationally influence your understanding of South Africa’s healthcare challenges, and what lessons can we apply locally?
I realised that our challenges aren’t unique, its context that is. LSHTM gave me an opportunity to connect with healthcare professionals from across the globe. I was able to learn more about their healthcare systems, challenges, what works, and the ways of life in approaching healthcare.
Good quality healthcare needs to be accessible to everyone regardless of income, background and socio-economic status. Until we make this possible, we are perpetuating the inequalities of the past and current. We need to focus our resources on disease prevention, our healthcare system is reactive rather than proactive.
Doing my masters in public health also equipped me with essential theoretical knowledge to understand human behaviour, behavioural economics and strategies to influence change. It gave me a broader overview of structural issues that influence healthcare.
We need a health professional in every department, and health in all policies. From finance, to labour, transport, finance and agriculture. Decisions made about food, road safety, urban planning, financing for food taxes (sugary and fast foods) all impact our health, therefore we need health voices in all spaces and policies.
Prevention is better and cheaper than cure. This allows us to make decisions that ensure our communities thrive.
Which health issues do you believe South Africans are still not discussing enough, and why?
We are not driving enough resources towards disease prevention. Particularly in non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes and hypertension, and reproductive screening for HPV, HIV and STIs.
All these contribute largely to our burden of disease, yet they are preventable and can be caught early and treatment be initiated promptly. These conditions are costing our economy millions that could otherwise be spent elsewhere.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
I would say navigating life after community service and charting my own career path. There is no roadmap for a career that does not include specialisation and being a general practitioner only. I have learnt, grown and stretched myself.
Health promotion and health communications is now one of my areas of focus, and while this has been done traditionally in the past within the system, I am now exploring new pathways for reaching communities and driving behaviour change.
What would you like your influence as a health communicator to achieve in South Africa over the next five years, particularly for young people and communities that remain underserved?
People can’t prevent diseases they don’t understand or know about. I want people to be well informed and knowledgeable to make informed decisions about their health and their lives.
Knowledge is power, and my job is to ensure that people are equipped, to hopefully drive health behaviour changes and health seeking across the country.
Quickfire Qs
Last film or series you watched on Netflix?
The Polygamist: Brilliant series, we could have done more to share the HIV story. People with HIV live healthy, long and full lives. We also now have many prevention options including a 6-month option which is highly effective. More stories need to take advantage of the platforms they have to educate.
Last song added to your playlist?
Oh dear can’t remember!
One health myth you wish South Africans would stop believing?
That vaginas need cleaning products and must smell like perfume. No, it’s a self-cleaning organ.
IsiZulu or English when creating content – which comes more naturally to you?
Isizulu.
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you outside medicine?
I have 6 brothers, I am the only girl.
If you could change one thing about South Africa’s healthcare system tomorrow, what would it be?
Disease prevention strategies.
Who do you want us to feature next? Nominate them here!
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