Sanelise Diko, a finalist of the Miss South Africa Top 19 competition, believes that her journey in pharmaceuticals involved not only studying medicine but also ensuring people understood health issues, knew where to seek help, and gained confidence in making informed decisions about their well-being.
Diko's passion for healthcare stems from personal experience, particularly observing how her grandmother lived with a chronic illness, which made her realize the critical importance of ensuring medical information is accessible to patients.
Throughout her journey, Diko realized that access to medication is only one part of the healthcare system. Patients also need to understand their condition, know how to manage it, and feel supported throughout the treatment process.
She noted: 'My journey started with my grandmother, but it has turned into a commitment to the communities I help today.'
Diko earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rhodes University, driven by a desire to help people better understand their health and navigate what often seems cumbersome healthcare systems.
Her exposure to the difficulties people face when seeking medical care, especially within the public healthcare system, strengthened her resolve to change the situation. As she progressed in her studies and became a pharmacist, she realized her role could extend beyond simply dispensing medications.
For Diko, healthcare professionals are responsible for educating and empowering patients, especially those who lack access to reliable information or adequate support. Her approach focuses on simplifying the understanding of medical information so that people can actively participate in decisions affecting their well-being.
Diko's commitment to public health led her to participate in aid initiatives, including trips on the Phelophepa train and the Isibhedlele Kubantu campaign. These events demonstrated to her the demand for affordable and accessible medical services, as well as how a lack of information can prevent people from receiving existing care.
One striking example was disseminating information about the Phelophepa train's services through her social media. She was surprised by how many people were unaware of the medical assistance available to them. She explained: 'Sometimes the barrier is not the absence of the service, but the lack of information about it.'
This experience reinforced her conviction that health education must go beyond medical facilities and reach people in their local communities. It also reminded her that behind every patient is a person with their own story, family, and circumstances that can affect their ability to receive treatment.
As social media increasingly becomes a primary source of information, Diko is particularly concerned about the impact of health misinformation on young South Africans. Recognizing the potential of digital platforms for education and connecting people, she believes that young people must be more critical of the health advice they see online.
Information spread without scientific basis or proper context can confuse people and influence their health decisions. As a pharmacist, Diko wants to encourage youth to question what they see online, verify information, and consult qualified healthcare professionals when guidance is needed.
She also hopes to change the perception of youth towards healthcare workers, encouraging them to view them as trusted partners in maintaining health, rather than just people visited when they are sick. Through her advocacy, she aims to make health information more accessible, understandable, and relatable.
For Diko, there is no single obstacle preventing people from accessing medical care. Financial constraints, limited access to facilities, stigma, and misinformation can contribute to delays in seeking treatment, often reinforcing each other.
A person might understand the importance of treatment but struggle to afford transport to a medical facility. Another person might have access to services but delay seeking care due to fear of judgment. Diko believes that solving these problems requires a more community-oriented approach to healthcare.
She would like to see enhanced public health education, more accessible and affordable services, and safe spaces where people can ask questions without fear of judgment. She also emphasizes that building trust between healthcare providers and communities is equally important so that people feel informed and supported enough to seek help promptly.
While the Miss South Africa platform provides an opportunity to amplify her message, Diko looks beyond the competition itself. Through the Empower Youth Africa structure, she hopes to develop a sustainable health advocacy initiative that will continue to benefit communities long after her participation in Miss South Africa. Her plans include collaborating with other healthcare professionals to answer common health questions, connecting people with accessible services, and conducting health education lectures in communities.
She is particularly interested in creating opportunities for youth and underserved communities to access reliable information, understand their healthcare options, and make informed decisions about their well-being. Partnerships with healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, and local medical facilities will be central to ensuring the initiative reaches those who need it most.
For Diko, the goal is not just raising awareness, but creating practical avenues for people to interact with the healthcare system and find necessary support. She stated: 'I want to create a model that can benefit communities after my participation in Miss South Africa, because access to medical education and care should not end when the spotlight fades.'
Ultimately, Diko hopes to contribute to a future where access to healthcare is not determined by a person's place of residence or financial means. Her participation in Miss South Africa offers another platform for this ambition, but her mission remains rooted in the work she believes needs to be done daily: helping people understand their health, access affordable services, and feel entitled to receive necessary care.
The Miss South Africa 2026 final will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at the Convention Centre in Johannesburg.