- Ten finalists from across the world have been selected for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award
- Sammy has won a number of prizes, locally and internationally
Award-winning Kitui neonatal nurse Christine Mawia Sammy is among the finalists for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2023.
Sammy and Tanzanian Wilson Fungameza Gwessa are the only nurses from Africa to make it to the finals of the coveted nursing award competition.
Sammy works at the Kitui County Referral Hospital in Kenya while Gwessa is stationed at the Muhimbili National Hospital-Mloganzila in Tanzania.
The other eight finalists are from the UAE, Panama, Ireland, Singapore, England, Philippines, India and Portugal, according to a communication from Aster Guardians.
The nurse who will be voted the overall winner will be crowned at a ceremony in London, United Kingdom, on May 12, and will go home with a life-changing cash reward.
The online voting that will determine who ultimately bags the top prize was concluded on April 30.
A website post by the organisers says the 10 finalists were picked from 52,065 stories of compassion and courage spanning 202 countries.
“They have been chosen to set the highest standards of nursing, turning conviction into action despite all odds,” said Aster Guardians.
Last Friday Kitui Governor Julius Malombe recognised Sammy's selection for the award.
“Christine’s nomination is in agreement with Mother Teresa’s words; ‘It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving’," he said while officiating the launch of the International Nurses and Midwives Week 2023.
“It is my belief and conviction that our nurses and midwives, as our own heroes, will continue offering services with dedication, care, love and compassion to our people.”
Sammy is no stranger to scooping awards, local and international. In 2013 she won the International Neonatal Nursing Excellence Award.
She has previously won the Beyond Zero Health Award and the Trailblazer Awards 2022, which was presented to her by then President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Sammy was also among 15 Kenyans who were honoured by President Kenyatta for their efforts in empowering and defending the rights of women.
Sammy is credited with setting up the first-ever newborn unit at the Kitui County Referral Hospital in 2010.
Her efforts saw newborn mortality drop from 70 per cent to under 10 per cent.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya