Durban North resident Nirusha Dayaram has cemented herself as one of the key role players in the Effingham community. Dayaram, who is a pharmacist by trade, owns the only pharmacy in the area and has become one of the go to people for many residents within the north Durban township. Describing herself as a lover of humanity, Dayaram finds joy in her work which enables her to foster a deep connection with the community. To find out more about this incredible woman, the Durban North News invited Dayaram on the couch to tell us more about herself and her journey into business.
Durban North News (DNN): Tell us a bit about yourself?
Nirusha Dayaram (ND): I’m a person who cares and has a goal to help others and do my bit to make the world a better place.
DNN: You are the owner of the only pharmacy in the Effingham area, tell us how your journey began?
ND: It all began as an idea of wanting to work close to home. I bought the pharmacy in 1999. At the time I was residing in Effingham and the rest is history.
DNN: What prompted you to get into this profession?
ND: When I chose to study pharmacy I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I just wanted to study something in heath sciences as I always found medicine quite intriguing. I grew up in a home that always had a large supply of meds for my granny. Everyone seemed to know what meds to take for different ailments and I felt left out.
DNN: What do you love most about your job and why?
ND: The interactions that I have with my patients is the most rewarding. I am very fortunate to be able to serve people physically, spiritually and emotionally by doing what I do.
DNN: What does community mean to you?
ND: I love the people that I work with and each day I spend at work is another day well spent. I believe that we are all part of a larger family and making a difference in each others life is what makes us whole.
DNN: Tell us about your community upliftment initiatives?
ND: We are regular donors to Childline and Helping Hands as well as various temples, churches and Ashrams in the area. We also work closely with schools and the CPF to help whenever the need arises.
DNN: Who would you say is your biggest inspirations and why?
ND: Ghandi and Wayne Dyer for sure. I learn from them and their lives everyday. They have an aura of love that comes from a place of inner peace.
DNN: What challenges have you experienced as a entrepreneur?
ND: The biggest challenge for me was finding a balance between being a mum to little kids and running the pharmacy. I was very fortunate that the community was so supportive. My kids are all grown up. One of them is currently studying I.T and the other is in Pharmacy school.
DNN: Who are some of your favourite people in your life?
ND: My favourite people and my greatest teachers are my kids.
DNN: What are your hobbies?
ND: Reading, yoga, meditation, hiking and table tennis.
DNN: Do you like travelling? What are some of your favourite travel destinations?
ND: Absolutely, my favourite places are the Midlands and Cape Town.
DNN: And lastly, what advice do you have for any of our readers?
ND: I have learned that to be patient and to listen well are the two most important skills that one can acquire in life. To give is more fulfilling than to receive and there is so much of abundance in the world that we can keep giving and never be depleted.
