#InternationalNursesDay: African lady wins World's Best Nurse! Awarded $250,000 in Dubai

Happy International Nurses Day to all the nurses world over!!!

Kenyan nurse, gender justice champion and educationist Anna Qabale Duba was crowned the first-ever recipient of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award. 

Anna won the prestigious title on International Nurses Day, celebrated globally on May 12. 

By winning the prize, Anna has bagged a cash prize of $250,000 from Aster DM Healthcare, the UAE-based Indian conglomerate that launched the award. 

During a glittering ceremony at Atlantis, The Palm, Anna accepted the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award from Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports. 

Anna, the founder of the Qabale Duba Foundation in Kenya, has been championing against harmful cultural practices against women, such as - female genital mutilation (FGM) and early or forced marriage. Her foundation has been empowering women through education, implementing peace-building activities, and advocating for girl-child education. 

‘This is a win for rural Africa.’ 

Fighting tears of joy after her name was announced by chairman and managing director of Aster DM Azad Moopen, Anna said, “I am happy and proud to have been given this tremendous honour. 

Growing up in a rural village in Kenya, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be celebrated on a global platform such as the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award.” 

Anna was the chosen one among ten finalists selected from across the world, including the UAE. The nurses were chosen from over 24,000 applicants from 184 countries through a stringent review process run independently by Ernst & Young LLP, a screening jury and a grand jury. All applications were evaluated to create a shortlist of 181, which underwent further review to put forward 41 top applications. 

The Grand Jury then reviewed the selected 41 applications to announce the top 10 finalists. The winning nurse was judged on four primary areas - leadership, research and innovation, patient care, and society and community service. 

As part of the celebrations, a group of 50 women healthcare professionals - called Naseej - performed a special fusion dance to celebrate the role of nurses.