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KENYA REJOICES AS ANTI-FGM CHAMPION IS NAMED WORLD’S BEST NURSE By Jamie Morris
her work in empowering women at risk of FGM. Upon winning the award, Anna said: “I feel extremely happy and privileged to receive this prestigious award. My heartfelt gratitude to the jury members and Aster DM Healthcare for providing me with this opportunity to tell my story.” The 31-year-old underwent FGM when she was 12, and escaped forced marriage at 14.
A Kenyan activist campaigning against female genital mutilation has been awarded the honour of “the best nurse in the world” at a prestigious ceremony in Dubai. Anna Qabale Duba was selected from over 24,000 nominees to win the first-ever Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award and a total of £205,000 in prize money for
She now works as a nurse in the northern county of Marsabit and runs a school in her home village to teach young women and their parents about crucial sexual health issues. The MA Epidemiology graduate was the first woman from her village to receive university education – an opportunity supported by her late brother Malicha, a soldier, to whom she dedicated the award.
“He used every coin he had to take me to a private Kenya Methodist University to pursue my nursing career, but unfortunately he was killed while I was just in the first semester of my study,” she wrote in a Facebook post shortly after her victory. “I couldn’t mention him in my winning speech because I could have broken down in tears. How I wish he is alive today to see how his younger sister is making him proud.” Aster Group founder Azad Moopen gave his “heartiest congratulations” to Anna for her historic victory. “Her contribution to the healthcare community and to the field of nursing has been remarkable,” he said. “We truly hope that her story continues to inspire many.” He recalled that the decision to launch the Global Nursing Award was inspired by a conversation he had with a nurse he met during the
