PUBLIC HEALTH IN SOUTH AFRICA FOUNDATION (PHISA)
Non-Profit Company
CIPC Registration number: 2020/755862/08
NPO registration: 318-781 NPO
Who We Are
Public Health in South Africa Foundation (PHISA) is a dedicated non-profit company, registered in terms of the Non-Profit Act, Act 71 of 1997. The vision of PHISA Foundation is to empower communities, individuals and organizations with health promoting information and skills for healthier lifestyles. As a professional organization PHISA Foundation is dedicated to equipping patients and the public at large with health knowledge and to improve their understanding of health system processes. We are destined to be a reliable partner to health service providers, communities and other relevant stakeholders in efforts to support the primary health care system and to promote health.
The Foundation is dedicated to the strengthening of the South Africa’s health care systems through:
Our Passion
PHISA FOUNDATION is managed by a dedicated team of health professionals who are very passionate about public health. We believe that more needs to be done to improve the delivery of health services, to reduce demand for public health services and to increase ownership of health by the communities.
This can be done, among other ways, by strengthening community-based health promotion as well as enforcing compliance to, and implementation of Patients’ Rights and Patients Responsibilities Charters.
Dr IM Mntambo
Ishmael Mbuso Mntambo was born and raised in north KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. When the father of the 4-year old Mntambo passed away, his mother Tobina S. Mtshali fought hard and eventually won the gruesome legal battles against her in-laws for the custody of her child, Mbuso. The paternal family was demanding that Mbuso (Zulu name for kingdom) remained behind in his late father’s household in order to take care of and to hopefully inherit some of his father’s cattle at a later stage. Mbuso’s mother preferred that Mbuso, the 4 year old boy, be rather enrolled in a school for formal education instead. When she eventually won the battle to take her son to school, she gave his son the name Ishmael (‘God will hear’). After passing matric, Ishmael Mbuso Mntambo worked for 2 years as a general assistant to the truck drivers in the trucking industry. After saving some money, and with the assistance of his uncle Mr FP Mntambo, he registered for a pharmacy degree at the university of Durban-Westville. The funds unfortunately ran out immediately but Ishmael was lucky to obtain the study scholarship from Educational Opportunities Council to complete his studies.
After working for few years for the KwaZulu-Natal department of health, he furthered his studies at the Medical University of Southern Africa to obtain the Master of Public Health degree, acquired the post-graduate Diploma in Medical Informatics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and later a PhD degree from the University of the Western Cape. He was also lucky to win a grant to study a short course in Health Policy in Antwerp, Belgium. Dr Mntambo worked as a pharmacist and later a district public health pharmacist and for many years as a CEO of the public hospital. He founded the health consultancy, Public Health Institute of South Africa (PHISA Pty. Ltd) and later the Public Health in South Africa Foundation (PHISA Foundation), a Non-Profit Company. Through the PHISA Foundation, Dr Mntambo expresses his knowledge and passion for public health in facilitating community-based projects such as health promotion, advocacy and charity.
Dr Mntambo is the author of a popular book ‘South Africa’s Public Health System: Management Lessons from the 30-year Journey’. The book is a comprehensive reflection on health services, in particular public healthcare. The book is also part of the fundraising initiative for the Foundation. Dr Mntambo believes in entrepreneurship, innovation and partnerships. He also draws inspiration from self-motivation and hardwork in pursuit of life goals. Mntambo contributed directly and indirectly to patient care through health professional trainings, compliance monitoring of pharmaceutical facilities and by donating blood. A donation count of more than 55 is testament to his spirit of care for the health of others. Dr Mntambo uses sport, in particular social running to challenge himself and to keep fit. By the year 2019, he had completed 10 Comrades Marathons.
”Let us serve God by giving love and service to His people, especially those that are less fortunate”
Team
PHISA Foundation is privileged to have broad and diverse professional skills, knowledge and experience in health. These include nursing, medical, pharmaceutical, nutrition and psychology fields.
services and projects
PHISA Foundation have in the recent past applied their professional knowledge and expertise in the implementation of the following value-adding projects and services:
Situational analysis and health profiling
Situational analysis and health profiling of the communities e.g. in Sebokeng, Vereeniging in Gauteng for purposes of establishment of sustainable community driven healthcare.
Health education campaigns
Health education campaigns in line with the health calendar, for example the World Diabetes Day in Chesterville, Durban. In events like this, we mobilize a range of stakeholders and partners in order to implement health promotion services which include health screenings, testing, treatment, health education and referral.
Community mobilization
Community mobilization/participation projects by establishing and supporting Community Based Organizations in support of health initiatives
Community health profiling
Community health profiling and advocacy initiatives which have the potential to improve quality and access to health services
The role of community participation
The ongoing depreciation of public health resources, coupled with increasing demand for health care is currently a strong motivation for renewed partnerships, fresh ideas and even stronger involvement of communities in health development in South Africa.
As a non-profit, non-governmental health organization, PHISA FOUNDATION is dedicated to playing a professional and constructive role in community-based health services. We are experienced in, and are passionate about health promoting programs at community level. Our inspiration for pursuing community participation agenda is from Dr IM Mntambo’s community participation model which demonstrated how ongoing consultation, improved allocation of resources and empowerment of communities could be an important investment in the primary health care system. These community involvement initiatives can encourage improved participation by communities, implementation of self-help projects and positive health outcomes.
Healthcare System Book
In this book, Dr Mntambo examines the history of public health services in a democratic South Africa and discusses how the health care system was transformed to implement systems for inclusive health care services. The book reflects on the inputs, strategic frameworks and activities that shaped the South Africa’s public health system between 1994 and 2024. As such, this is a potentially useful reference for health managers as they apply lessons learned to address current and future challenges.
As the author reflects thoroughly on the journey of the public health care system during the 30 – year period, he acknowledges that management systems, policy frameworks and various health initiatives of the government played a useful role in shaping the delivery of public health services. Accessibility and affordability of public health services are undoubtedly the main achievements of the public health sector.
Consideration of current trends and data for service delivery in the public health sector, however, reflects significant decrease in quality and efficiency, and this is complicated by troubling deficiency of essential resources. The author explores options for improving management approaches, especially at institutional level. He proposes drastic changes to the culture of the organization in order to give effect to the principles of healthcare provision. Central to the overhauling of the organization’s culture is the need for improved systems and procedures for personnel supervision, accountability, discipline and clinical governance. He further believes that the involvement of communities through consultations, empowerment and community mobilization can directly or indirectly encourage health seeking, healthy behaviours and self-help health projects in such communities.
PHISA Foundation appeals to stakeholders, especially those in health management and public health schools to partner with it by purchasing the book in support of its health promoting initiatives. A minimum donation of R400.00 per book will go a long way in advancing health advocacy. The book will be delivered to you.
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News & Events
Catch the latest updates on PHISA’s workshops, health campaigns, research activities, and community events. Stay informed and connected as we work to strengthen public health across South Africa.
- on 24 June 2025
As part of the World Diabetes Day, PHISA FOUNDATION conducted a multi-stakeholder Diabetes Event in Chesterville, in the eThekwini municipality. […]
- on 23 June 2025
On the 12th June 2025, PHISA Foundation partnered with various stakeholders from the health sector, business and civic sector in […]
- on 23 June 2025
PHISA Foundation was honoured to be commissioned by the United States-based organization to pioneer the implementation of the Sebokeng Health […]