Kenyan national wins $250,000 Aster Guardian Global Nursing award in Dubai

Kenyan national Anna Qabale Duba was crowned the first-ever recipient of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Awards held in Dubai on Thursday, May 12.

Qabale Duba received prize money amounting to $250,000 and was selected by a grand jury amongst 10 finalists. She is the first woman graduate in her village, dedicating her life towards literacy and serving the masses through the Qabale Duba Foundation. She has worked to empower them with education and campaigns against harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation. “I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be acknowledged and celebrated in such a way. This is a win for Kenya, for Africa and the girls in the villages,” she said.

Congratulations to Nurse Anna Qabale Duba for creating history and winning the first-ever Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award! @asterhealthcare @qabaleduba @asterguardians #Nurse #NurseLife #NursesOfInstagram #NursePractitioner #NursesUnite #NursesOnly #NurseOnDuty pic.twitter.com/QO84O5cH6v

— Aster DM Healthcare (@ASTERHealthcare) May 12, 2022

The Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award received nominations from 24,000 nurses across 184 countries. Launched in 2021, by Aster DM Healthcare, the award was initiated to acknowledge the humanitarian care extended by nurses worldwide.

All applications were evaluated to create a shortlist of 181 nurses, through a stringent review process run independently by Ernst & Young LLP. They were judged on four primary areas – leadership, research and innovation, patient care, and society and community service.

Apart from Qabale Duba, the other nine finalists also received a sum of $5,000 each. They included Dida Jirma Bulle, Francis Michael Fernando, Jasmine Mohammad Sharaf, Julia Dorothy Downing, Lincy Joseph, Manju Dhandapani, Mathew James Ball, Rachel Abraham Joseph and Waris Mohammad Qarani.

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“Heartiest congratulations to Anna Qabale Duba from Kenya for being the winner of the first-ever Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award. Her contribution to the healthcare community and to the field of nursing has been remarkable and we truly hope that her story continues to inspire many.” said Dr Azad Moopen, founder, chairman and MD of Aster DM Healthcare.

Addressing the award ceremony remotely, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, conveyed his best wishes to international nursing workforce on occasion of the International Nurses Day. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, the world witnessed the tremendous contribution of nurses. Our appreciation of nurses has to go beyond applause.”

The awards were held on May 12 to coincide with International Nurses’ Day. Around 80 per cent of primary health care is delivered by nurses around the world.