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Ghanaian nurse Naomi Oti vies for global nursing prize to support health delivery
An oncology nurse specialist and Head of Nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has been named one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious ‘Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award’ out of over 100,000 entries worldwide.
Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, is one of only two Africans to make the final shortlist, and now needs public votes to bring home a historic win for Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday.
According to the statement, currently, the oncology nurse specialist is vying for a cash prize of $250,000 together with other competitors across the world to enable her expand her work in cancer education, mentorship, and care across Africa.
At the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Center, the statement said, she has championed equity in cancer outcomes, pioneered specialist nurse training, and transformed patient care.
“Under her leadership, over 70 oncology and breast care nurses have been trained,” it added.
It mentioned that, Naomi has worked with leading global institutions including the Cross Cancer Institute (Canada) to bring high-quality oncology education to Ghanaian nurses.
According to the statement, she had played a key role in developing the country’s postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum and has mentored more than 48 nurses across Africa.
“Her commitment to building capacity is helping to raise a new generation of empowered African oncology nurse leaders’’.
“Her influence reaches the international stage through her work with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), and ASCO’s global faculty’’.
The statement said Ms Oti co-leads research initiatives and policy development efforts that integrate African perspectives into global oncology practices.
It further mentioned that the Nurse Specialist’s groundbreaking research on breast cancer risks among African women has reshaped early detection strategies adding that “her contributions to clinical trial protocols have enhanced patient engagement and data integrity across multiple international studies.”
Ms Oti has received numerous national accolades, including the Ghana Ministry of Health Excellence Award and the Dr Dorcia Kisseh International Award from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
Ghanaians have been urged to vote for Ms Oti through https://apply.asterguardians.com/voting
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu