Ghanaian oncology nurse Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti received the 2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award for her groundbreaking contributions to nurse education and cancer care.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, gave out the award, which carries a $250,000 prize, at a ceremony in Dubai. Out of 100,000 applicants from 199 countries, Ohene Oti, the head of nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, was chosen.
In Ghana and throughout Africa, she has worked to address disparities in cancer care, especially through systemic and educational reform.
“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 recognition is not mine alone – it belongs to every nurse across Ghana, Africa, and the world who leads with resilience, compassion, and courage.” She stated at the ceremony.
Significant advancements have been made in Ghana’s oncology nursing field under her direction. In partnership with foreign organizations, such as the Cross Cancer Institute in Canada, she assisted in the introduction of training initiatives.
She was also a member of the group that created Ghana’s postgraduate program in oncology nursing in 2015. Since then, it has trained ten breast care nurses and more than 60 oncology nurse specialists.
Ohene Oti has had an impact on cancer nursing education and policy outside of Ghana.
She collaborates with international organizations such as ASCO and ISNCC, is a co-investigator on a Global Bridges Oncology grant, and is a member of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer’s (AORTIC) education and training committee. Her advocacy centers on equitable and culturally appropriate cancer care.
Her honor coincides with increasing calls for the global advancement of the nursing profession. In his remarks at the award ceremony, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended nurses for their critical role in healthcare systems around the globe.
Aster DM Healthcare introduced the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award in 2021 with the goal of recognizing nurses’ contributions in areas such as community service, leadership, research, and innovation. Applications for this year’s award cycle increased by 28% compared to 2024.
“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,” stated Aster DM Healthcare’s founder, Dr. Azad Moopen.
Ohene Oti was one of nine finalists who received recognition for their contributions to the field. Nurses from Switzerland, Papua New Guinea, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, the United States, Kenya, Malaysia, and India were among them.
Ernst & Young LLP and two different juries went through a rigorous process to choose the finalists. In addition to recognizing individual accomplishments, the award raises awareness of the global significance of nursing in improving public health, particularly in underdeveloped areas.
By Najat Adamu
