Suhayl Essa: meet the doctor who brought light to the hospital wards during the Covid-19 pandemic

He loves to make people laugh – so much so that he decided to quit his full-time job as medical doctor to pursue a career in comedy. And Suhayl Essa was well on his way to seeing his name in lights.

Two years ago the doctor-turned-comedian had a tour lined up to take his solo show around the country and then onto the international circuit. Then Covid-19 struck.

After witnessing the rapid rise in coronavirus cases and the desperate need for healthcare workers across the country, Suhayl (29) dusted off his scrubs and rejoined the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Gauteng, where he had been working since he graduated, to help fight the deadly virus.