Ghana’s Naomi Ohene Oti wins Aster Nursing Award 2025 in Dubai
Award includes a $250,000 prize recognising outstanding global impact in nursing
DUBAI: Nurse Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti from Ghana has been awarded the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2025, receiving a cash prize of $250,000 at a grand ceremony held in Dubai, UAE.
Selected from over 100,000 applications submitted by nurses from 199 countries, Naomi was honoured for her remarkable contributions to oncology nursing and healthcare innovation.
The award was presented by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, UAE, during a ceremony attended by Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare, and T.J. Wilson, Executive Director and Group Head of Governance & Corporate Affairs, Aster DM Healthcare, along with several other notable guests.
Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award
Launched in 2021 by Aster DM Healthcare, the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award recognises outstanding contributions by nurses in areas such as leadership, research, innovation, and community service. The 2025 edition marked a milestone with 100,000 applications – a 28% rise compared to the previous year – received from 199 countries.
A special highlight of the evening was a video message from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who congratulated the finalists and acknowledged Aster DM Healthcare’s dedication to advancing nursing on a global scale.
Sheikh Nahyan praised the award as a powerful tribute to one of the world’s most respected professions. He emphasised that nurses represent the frontline of healthcare systems worldwide, providing care and hope in critical times. He recalled the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, who built the nation’s healthcare system on principles of human dignity and inclusion. Sheikh Nahyan added that this vision is strongly upheld today under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who continues to support healthcare professionals as key drivers of the country’s progress.
Who is Naomi Ohene Oti?
Naomi Ohene Oti is an Oncology Nurse Specialist and Head of Nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Over two decades, she has reshaped oncology nursing and expanded specialist care access across Ghana.
Her initiatives include designing and implementing training programmes in partnership with institutions such as the Cross Cancer Institute in Canada. These collaborations have enabled the upskilling of local nurses, with over 60 oncology nurse specialists and 10 breast care nurses trained under her leadership. In 2015, she contributed to developing Ghana’s postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum, further institutionalising advanced cancer care education.
Her influence stretches across Africa. Naomi is a member of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and she co-investigates Global Bridges Oncology GM Grant projects. She has co-led initiatives with the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), contributing to competency standards and policy frameworks that shape the nursing landscape across the continent.
Through mentorship, she has guided over 48 nurses from various African nations. As a global faculty member with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s Multidisciplinary Cancer Management Courses, she advocates for culturally relevant care while representing African nursing perspectives at international forums.
Naomi’s work has earned her national recognition including Ghana’s Ministry of Health Excellence Award and the Dr. Dorcia Kisseh International Award by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
Celebration of excellence
Reacting to her win, Naomi said, “To be honoured 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.” She emphasised that nursing is a force for social justice and that the award will enable her to scale training, build faculty, and inspire future generations of oncology nurses.
Dr. Azad Moopen described her as a nurse who has redefined the profession through innovation, leadership, and systemic change. “Her contributions uplift not only patients but the entire healthcare ecosystem,” he noted.
Alisha Moopen added, “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.”
The other nine finalists – Catherine (Kate) Maree Holliday (Switzerland), Edith Namba (Papua New Guinea), Fitz Gerald Dalina Camacho (UAE), Dr. Jed Ray Gengoba Montayre (Hong Kong SAR), Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga (USA), Khadija Mohamed Juma (Kenya), Maheswari Jaganathan (Malaysia), Dr. Sukhpal Kaur (India), and Vibhaben Gunvantbhai Salaliya (India) – were also celebrated for their outstanding contributions to nursing.
These top ten were selected through a rigorous review process managed by Ernst & Young LLP, involving a Screening-Jury and a Grand Jury composed of eminent experts from healthcare and academia.