Dr Setoaba

Dr Lungile Precious Setoaba is an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon practising at Melomed Hospital in Richards Bay.

In 2007, Dr Setoaba completed her MBBCh at the University of Witwatersrand. In 2017, she completed a FCORL (SA) qualification at the College of Medicines of South Africa.

Dr Setoaba began her career as a medical officer at Anglo Ashanti Gold. Thereafter, she spent two years as a General Surgical Registrar at Kwazulu Natal Department of Health. From 2013 to 2017, she attended Wits University’s ENT-Head and Neck Surgery Department, where she trained as an ENT surgeon. In 2018, she became an ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon Specialist at Melomed in Richards Bay.

She treats conditions such as hearing loss, balance problems, tinnitus, tumours in the head, neck and airways. Dr Setoaba’s biggest passion, though, is treating ear conditions.

Using the state-of-the-art facilities at Melomed, Dr Setoaba is equipped to offer a wide range of services related to the ear, nose and throat: the treatment of head and neck cancers, allergies and nasal problems, diseases leading to hearing loss and tonsillitis.

Dr Setoaba also has an immense passion for serving her community. She aims to bring a cochlear programme to Zululand as she believes there is a great need for this type of treatment in rural communities with countless people suffering from hearing loss. She believes that cochlear implants have the ability to enhance the quality of life for those that cannot afford it.

Dr Setoaba is very excited about the ever-evolving field of ENT. She sees it as a very innovative field, with new techniques and technologies revolutionising procedures like skull base, ear, and airway surgery. The most important aspect of her job is to help restore people’s senses. Dr Setoba realises that the head and neck houses very important sensory organs that make life enjoyable. She does her utmost to preserve patients’ sense of smell, hearing and taste with specialised services. Dr Setoaba also helps people regain functions such as breathing, swallowing and speaking.

Qualifications