Fikile Dikolomela-Lengene
Health and Safety/Women in Uniform
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Project Name/Description:
Primary Healthcare Nurse, Johannesburg Health District, Stretford CHC
Active community participation and health campaigns are some of Dikolomela-Lengene’s passions as she is determined to see better health outcomes across South Africa’s urban and rural areas.
Dikolomela-Lengene began her career in 2005 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, setting her on a career trajectory that will see her furthering her studies and obtaining qualifications such as a Diploma in General, Midwifery, Community and Psychiatric Nursing and a Diploma in Clinical Nursing Science.
While she was studying, the health challenges of the community around her stayed with her, and she resolved to get involved. Among her involvement was the championing of antiretroviral treatment management in various facilities where she worked.
Dikolomela-Lengene, with a passion for advocating nurses’ rights. In 2021, she was selected to participate in the Apolitical Academy Public Service Leadership programme and became FuturElect Alumni under Public service.
Dikolomela-Lengene says: “Being a nurse activist and a worker myself, my advocacy passion has always been essential healthcare workers, how their working conditions get affected by poor leadership and governance that exists in our continent, thus bringing poor outcomes in health.”
After being a part of the Mandela Washington Leadership programme in 2022, and attending Howard University in Washington DC, studying public management, Dikolomela-Lengene came back home and founded the Fikile Dikolomela-Lengene Foundation – aimed at strengthening community-led nursing.
Dikolomela-Lengene lives by the quote: “One way or the other, be it at birth or death you will pass through the hands of the nurse, assisting us in making them warm enough for you.”
