Mrs Dineo Matlapeng of the University of Botswana Clinic has received two Presidential Awards of Honor for her distinguished service and contribution to Botswana’s nursing profession.
Mrs Matlapeng received the awards at the Botswana Nurses’ Day and Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) 50th Anniversary Celebrations held at the UB Indoor Sports Centre under the theme Nurses: A voice to lead-Health is a Human Right.
She was the only person to be honoured with two awards that day being the Nursing Meritorious Award and the Nursing Long Service of Good Conduct Award. The two awards add to another - the HIV and AIDS Community Engagement Champion – which she received from the University of Botswana in collaboration with National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) in 2014.
Mrs Matlapeng boasts a 37-year experience as a nurse and health care practitioner, 34 of which was at UB where she witnessed the student community populations grow from less than 1000 in 1983 to above 17 000 in 2018.
In addition, she has extensive management experience, having acted as a matron & Director of UB Health Services on numerous occasions.
“Mrs Matlapeng single handedly introduced the outreach/community health programme in the University, mobilising students around various primary health care issues such as HIV/AIDS, safe sex, alcohol and substance abuse. The programme created a lot of awareness among the student community,” says Dr Joseph Atta who has known her for over 20 years in one of references he wrote for her.
Specialist Physician-Nephrologist, Dr Gordana Cavric, describes Mrs Matlapeng as very diligent, compassionate and able to perform multiple roles.
“She has pioneered community and wellness programmes at UB and her passion for HIV has driven her to organise and participate in various workshops and programmes in service and training of nurses and students,” reckons Dr Cavric.
“I am truly humbled and pleased to look back at the changes and impact I have made within the student community pertaining to health and growth of the clinic. I cannot further express my gratitude to BONU for acknowledging my contribution throughout my stay at the UB clinic,” says Mrs Matlapeng.