Two Free State frontline workers, Dr Nicholas Pearce and general worker Ponaki Eunice Plaatjie, have scooped coveted awards at the annual National Batho Pele Excellence Awards (NBPEA) for 2021-’22.
This recognition comes as South Africa marks two years since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.
Pearce received the accolade for best doctor of the year plus R15 000 in prize money, and Plaatjie was named the best general worker of the year.
Ayanda Dlodlo, Public Service and Administration minister, presented the prestigious awards at a function in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, on 23 March. The aim is to recognise the creative achievements and contributions of public servants who go an extra mile in accelerating service delivery.
While Pearce was honoured for Covid-19 vaccination advocacy in an effort to achieve herd immunity in the province, Plaatjie was acknowledged for excelling in duties in her category.
Pearce is the head of the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) and headed the Covid-19 task team at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein.
He scooped one of the top six accolades. The recognition he received followed acknowledgment by Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa on previous occasions. It noted his immense contribution to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the Free State.
Montseng Tsiu, Free State MEC for Health, has expressed appreciation for the recognition he received.
She said Pearce was instrumental in ensuring the administration of more than 1,9 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine and the full vaccination of more than 1,4 million people in the province, which includes frontline healthcare workers.
Pearce was also acknowledged by the UFS earlier this year. The institute bestowed on Pearce the Chancellor’s Medal for outstanding service.
He received this for championing collaboration with a team of colleagues at the UFS to address the Covid-19 needs of the UFS community and the Free State.
Through his leadership Pearce ensured the successful rolling out of treatment plans and training of staff and students for the comprehensive management programme.
