Kenyan crowned world's best nurse in Dubai ceremony

A Kenyan national has been crowned the first-ever winner of the Aster Guardians Nursing Award.

Anna Qabale Duba, who bagged the $250,000 prize, was one of over 24,000 nurses from 184 countries who competed for the award.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group honoured the winner at an award ceremony held at Atlantis The Palm.

Duba 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.

.@HHAhmedBinSaeed honours the winner of the first Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2022. Anna Qabale Duba from Kenya named the winner of the $250,000 Award. https://t.co/GLHn3I7ehR pic.twitter.com/8sQGTZ9Add

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 12, 2022

"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," said Duba on winning the award.

She was the first graduate from her village and the only educated child in her family.

During her nursing studies, she won the Miss Tourism Kenya 2013 and 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.

"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," said Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare.