University of Botswana’s Head of Environmental Health Programme, Dr. Bontle Mbongwe, has been awarded the 2018 International Network for Women Against Tobacco (INWAT) Achievement Award.
Dr. Mbongwe was presented with the award at the 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Cape Town recently. Dr. Mbongwe’s dedication to improving women’s health and preventing the tobacco epidemic among women and girls won her the award.
Africa Programme of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Director, Ms Bintou Camara Bityeki said Dr. Mbongwe has played a pivotal role in changing Botswana’s tobacco- control landscape and building the capacity of so many youths, besides developing new leaders in tobacco control.
This the second international award Dr. Mbongwe has received following the prestigious WHO Director General’s award for leadership in global tobacco control which she received in 2003. Having served as a government official before, Dr. Mbongwe was very instrumental in the promotion of public health. She was also instrumental during the negotiations for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Dr Mbongwe is the founder and Executive Director of Influential Anti-Tobacco Network (ATN), Botswana’s first tobacco control civil society organisation based and founded at the University of Botswana.
She currently sits in the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) as a board member and continues to be a committed leader and mentor for emerging tobacco control activists in Botswana, Africa and globally.