Blazing a trail of excellence in rendering healthcare service in her community, Elisa Koenyama has yet again received recognition for continued dedication to her work.
She was a winner during the South African Heroine Awards, securing a Blazer award in the health and wellness category.
The awards ceremony was held at Sun City on 2 November.
A purpose-driven professional nurse, Koenyama was recognised for her endeavours in the healthcare sector.
She was the only Free Stater of the seven finalists in this specific category.
The awards recognise and celebrate 40 emerging leaders under the age of 40 who positively impact the world, personally and professionally, through their exceptional leadership or projects.
Koenyama was rewarded for her continued, impactful effort to render healthcare through the private clinic Unjani Clinic in Section H, Botshabelo. She began operating the clinic early in 2020. The small-scale health centre is part of a network operating in South Africa.
Also being the recipient of other coveted awards, Koenyama in 2023 was recognised as the health entrepreneur of the year in the SHE Awards.
Koenyama’s other previous awards and notable nominations involve the Sowetan Heroic Women Awards in 2020, and being listed as a nominee in the the Umfiki Awards in 2020 – awarded to newcomers whose statistics exceeds those of their peers in the same year. She was nominated and rewarded for her ability to provide much-needed professional and basic primary healthcare services in Botshabelo, such as the provision of chronic medication and information on nutritional health and development.
Driven by a passion for healthcare services, Koenyama has extended the provision of critical services to developing and informal settlements in Bloemfontein, targeting areas which include Phomolong, Caleb Motshabi, Mafora and Phases 9 and 10.
Through her mobile clinic, she makes access to health services possible for those living in abject poverty or facing transport challenges.
