H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, today honoured the winner of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award at an award ceremony held at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai.
Anna Qabale Duba from Marsabit County in Kenya was named the winner of the Award, which has a prize money of US$250,000.
The award ceremony was attended by Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority; Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Academic Health Corporation and Vice Chancellor of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and senior ministry officials, government representatives, VIPs, renowned personalities from UAE and abroad and 600 delegates. The top 10 finalists for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award were announced on 26th April. The winner was chosen after a public voting process, followed by the Grand Jury’s final evaluation. The other nine finalists were also awarded a monetary prize.
Anna Qabale Duba was the first graduate from her village and the only educated child in her family. She chose education because she understood that illiteracy held people back from learning new things and changing harmful cultural norms. During her nursing studies, she won the Miss Tourism Kenya 2013. She used her influence to advocate for gender equality and education in her community. Under the Qabale Duba Foundation, she built a school in her village where children could study in the morning and adults in the afternoon. The community literacy programme currently has over 150 children and 100 adult learners.
On winning the award, Nurse Anna Qabale Duba said, “I feel extremely happy and privileged to receive this prestigious award. Ever since I heard about the award, I was very keen on applying to it as it provides nurses from all over the world a platform to be recognised. It is an honour to receive the award from H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.”
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, said, “It gives us a great sense of fulfillment to witness the impact that Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award has been able to create. What started as an initiative to recognise the outstanding contribution of nurses worldwide has now emerged as a movement encouraging people to acknowledge the contribution of nurses to their lives and society. As we look forward to the next edition of the award, we hope more nurses will come forward to share their stories and inspire the youth to consider a long-term successful career in Nursing.”
Ms. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said, “All nurses have incredible stories to tell, and we feel honoured to be able to provide a platform like Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, which has been able to celebrate and cascade some of these deserving stories to the world. I cannot imagine a single day in healthcare without these nurses pushing boundaries of care delivery and ensuring the well-being of their patients.”
The other nine finalists included Dida Jirma Bulle from Kenya; Francis Michael Fernando from United Kingdom; Jasmine Mohammed Sharaf from United Arab Emirates; Julia Dorothy Downing from United Kingdom; Lincy Padicala Joseph from India, Manju Dhandapani from India; Matthew James Ball from Australia; Rachel Abraham Joseph from United States and Wais Mohammad Qarani from Afghanistan.
Source: Emirates News Agency