About Us
Who We Are
Public Health in South Africa Foundation (PHISA) is an 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.
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.
Vision
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.
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”