#12 - Interview with a public health specialist - Dr. Peter Barron

“You have to be flexible enough to change as technology and your career opportunities change.”

"As much as we think we can plan our lives, often circumstances determine what is going to happen.”

“There is no one path that is right or wrong for somebody.”

“Life is about opportunities and what roads become open to you. It’s not too late.” 

Dr. Peter Barron joins us on the podcast for a look at what a day in the life of a public health specialist is like. Peter started his career studying accounting and during his 3rd year he decided that he would like to make a change. He continued with accounting, completing it in 5 years and lecturing in the subject for 1 year at UCT. While on a trip to Greece he considered his future and what he would like to do. At the age of 25 he started a career in medicine amongst a first year class of 18 year old students.  

Peter completed medicine in 6 years. After completing his intern year in Windhoek he moved to the Eastern Cape where he took up paediatrics at the age of 32. He worked at a rural hospital for 3 years where he started to think about a better way to help the ever increasing number of out going patients.  

Peter then specialized in public health for 4 years and by the age of 39, married with 2 children, he embarked on a career in public health, working for 5 years in primary health care in Khayelitsha.  

Peter spent the bulk of his career working in primary health care in South Africa. In 1994 he began setting up the health department in the Northern Cape and followed this with 12 years in primary care at an NGO in Durban. 

Peter began consulting, working in Kenya, Nigeria, India , Nepal , Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Senegal and also worked with the world health organization international NGOs.  

In 2009 a new minister of health was appointed in South Africa and Peter took up a job in the national department working in Cape Town for 10 years. At the age of 69 he decided to retire from his role.  

The final 5 years of Peter’s career included an involvement in mHealth, setting up MomConnect which is used by over 1.5 million women in South Africa during pregnancy.  

We take a look back at this astounding career.