Nurse Naomi Oyoe Ohene
Oti from Ghana wins Aster
Guardians Global Nursing
Award 2025
(DUBAI)
-
Nurse Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti
from Ghana, an Oncology
Nurse Specialist & Head of
Nursing, National
Radiotherapy Oncology and
Nuclear Medicine Centre,
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital,
has been announced as the
winner of the Aster
Guardians Global Nursing
Award 2025, receiving the
prestigious USD 250,000
prize at a grand ceremony
recently held in Dubai, UAE.
The award was presented by
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan
bin Mabarak Al Nahyan,
Cabinet Member and Minister
of Tolerance and
Coexistence, UAE in the
presence of Dr. Azad Moopen,
Founder Chairman of
Aster DM Healthcare,
alongside Alisha Moopen,
Managing Director and Group
CEO – Aster DM Healthcare,
T.J. Wilson, Executive
Director and Group Head –
Governance & Corporate
Affairs, Aster DM
Healthcare, and other
distinguished guests.
Launched in 2021 by
Aster DM Healthcare, the
Aster Guardians Global
Nursing Award aims to
recognize and celebrate the
extraordinary contributions
of nurses worldwide in
various fields, including
leadership, research,
innovation, and community
service. The fourth edition
of the award received an
astounding participation
with 100,000 applications
from nurses from 199
countries across the world,
marking a 28% growth in
applications received in
2024.
A special
highlight of the ceremony
was a message from Dr.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
Director-General of the
World Health Organization,
who congratulated the
finalists and commended
Aster DM Healthcare’s
commitment to championing
the crucial contributions of
nurses worldwide.
His Excellency
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al
Nahyan, Minister of
Tolerance and Coexistence,
UAE, said, “The
Aster Guardians Global
Nursing Award stands as a
distinguished platform that
honors one of the noblest
and most impactful
professions in human
history—nursing. Nurses are
truly the first line of
defense in any healthcare
system. They provide care,
comfort, and hope in the
most critical moments and
embody the highest ideals of
humanity through their
compassion and selfless
service.
In the
United Arab Emirates, we
view the nursing profession
with deep pride and
gratitude, recognizing the
tireless efforts and
dedication of those who
serve in this essential
field. The late founding
father of our nation, Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan—may his soul rest in
peace—envisioned a
healthcare system built on
the foundation of human
dignity, where every
healthcare worker is valued
and supported. Today, this
vision continues under the
wise and inspiring
leadership of His Highness
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, President of the
UAE, who firmly believes
that investing in healthcare
professionals is an
investment in the nation’s
future and the well-being of
all people.
On this
occasion, we extend our
heartfelt congratulations to
the winner of the Aster
Guardians Global Nursing
Award 2025, as well as to
all the outstanding
finalists. Each of them
represents a beacon of
compassion, resilience, and
service to humanity. Their
recognition is a testament
to the profound impact
nurses have on individuals
and communities across the
globe.
We reaffirm
the UAE’s unwavering
commitment to elevating the
status of the nursing
profession worldwide and
honoring those who protect
lives and care for others
with devotion and dignity.
This award reflects the
spirit of tolerance,
solidarity, and human
fraternity that lies at the
core of our national
values.”
Commenting
on the win, Nurse
Naomi Ohene Oti said,
“To be honored with the
Aster Guardians Global
Nursing Award is deeply
humbling. This recognition
is not mine alone – it
belongs to every nurse
across Ghana, Africa, and
the world who leads with
resilience, compassion, and
courage. For over two
decades, I have witnessed
the inequities in cancer
care firsthand and dedicated
myself to closing these gaps
through training, outreach,
and system-level change.
This award will help amplify
our impact, scaling
training, building faculty,
and inspiring the next
generation of oncology
nurses across Africa. At the
heart of my journey is a
simple truth: nursing is not
just a profession – it is a
force for social justice,
equity, and hope. Today, I
stand not just for myself,
but for every African nurse
who dares to innovate and
serve, even against the
odds.”
Naomi Ohene
Oti from Ghana is an
Oncology Nurse Specialist &
Head of Nursing, National
Radiotherapy Oncology and
Nuclear Medicine Centre at
the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital, where she has
transformed patient care,
pioneered specialist nurse
training, and championed
equity in cancer outcomes.
She has been instrumental in
developing and launching
oncology nursing training
programs in partnership with
international centers like
the Cross Cancer Institute
in Canada, bringing
world-class cancer education
to local nurses in Ghana and
significantly improving
patient outcomes. In 2015,
she was part of an expert
team that developed the
country’s postgraduate
oncology nursing curriculum.
Under her leadership, over
60 oncology nurse
specialists and 10 breast
care nurses have been
trained, greatly expanding
specialized care services
nationwide.
Her
influence extends across the
continent. She is a member
of the education and
training committee for the
African Organization for
Research and Training in
Cancer (AORTIC), and a
co-investigator on the
Global Bridges Oncology GM
Grant. She has also co-led
initiatives with ISNCC and
shaped continental
competencies and policies in
cancer nursing, while
mentoring more than 48
nurses from African nations.
Through her role as a global
faculty member with ASCO’s
Multidisciplinary Cancer
Management Courses, she
brings African nursing
perspectives to
international cancer forums,
advocating for culturally
relevant care. She has
received numerous national
honors, including Ghana’s
Ministry of Health
Excellence Award and the
prestigious Dr. Dorcia
Kisseh International Award
from the Ghana Registered
Nurses and Midwives
Association.
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder
Chairman, Aster DM
Healthcare, said,
“Nurse Naomi Ohene Oti has
redefined what it means to
be a nurse – not just as a
caregiver but as an
innovator, leader, and
changemaker. Her
contributions uplift not
only patients but the entire
healthcare ecosystem,
setting a gold standard for
others to follow.
Each of the Top 10 finalists
has demonstrated
extraordinary dedication,
skill, and compassion in
their work. These nurses are
not just healthcare
providers, but are true
leaders, pushing boundaries
and making a profound impact
in their communities. Their
exceptional contributions
deserve to be recognized,
and through this award, we
celebrate their passion and
commitment to improving
lives across the globe.”
Ms. Alisha Moopen,
Managing Director & Group
CEO, Aster DM Healthcare,
said, “Naomi Ohene Oti’s
story is a powerful reminder
of the quiet heroism that
unfolds every day in
hospitals, clinics, and
communities across the
world. We are incredibly
proud to shine a global
spotlight on her work, and
through her, honor the
millions of nurses who keep
healthcare systems running
and humanity thriving.”
The rest of the 9
finalists, Catherine (Kate)
Maree Holliday from
Switzerland, Edith Namba
from Papua New Guinea, Fitz
Gerald Dalina Camacho from
UAE, Dr. Jed Ray Gengoba
Montayre from Hong Kong SAR,
Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga from
USA, Khadija Mohamed Juma
from Kenya, Maheswari
Jaganathan from Malaysia,
Dr. Sukhpal Kaur from India,
and Vibhaben Gunvantbhai
Salaliya from India, were
also recognized for their
contribution to nursing.
These nurses were
selected through a stringent
review process run by Ernst
& Young LLP, a panel of
Screening-Jury and the Grand
Jury.
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