A 31-year-old Kenyan nurse, Anna Qabale Duba, who campaigns against early marriage and female genital mutilation has beaten 24,000 other nominees to win the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award and has made away with $250,000 (£205,000).
Harping on her role, Duba’s colleagues averred that she always goes the extra mile for others in her pastoralist community in the northern county of Marsabit, and runs a school in her village.
Speaking with newsmen, an elated Duba said “This award will help me to expand my school all over Kenya”.
It was reported that in the morning the classrooms of Torbi Pioneer Academy host lessons for children before their parents come in for literacy classes in the afternoons – and sometimes both age groups get the same homework.
Qabale stated that she was the only university-educated girl from Torbi village, and the only girl educated past primary school level in her family of 19 children. The history maker holds a Masters in Epidemiology and has set up a foundation aimed at empowering young girls and mothers.
“I am so passionate about education. After tasting the fruits of education, I decided to go back home to empower the rest,” she told newsmen.
Duba dedicated the record-breaking award to her late brother, who part-funded her university studies.
It was reported that through her Qabale Duba Foundation, the school she has built in her village also teaches parents about key sexual and reproductive health issues.
She works as a nurse at Marsabit County Referral Hospital, where she strives to end harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage, and it is for her work in these areas that she scooped the Dubai-based Aster DM healthcare Global Nursing Award.
In the chat with newsmen, she noted that “It’s not easy to talk about these things publicly. Being a woman – and we come from our patriarchal families – it’s not easy to talk about them, but I am really trying my level best”.
“I am using education as an excuse for my advocacy work to campaign against these devices.”
Hassan Halakhe, director of preventive promotion health services at Marsabit County Referral Hospital, said “She knows all too well the challenges that young girls face”.
“Many of them now do not miss out on classes as they are given sanitary towels to use when they are on their menses. They are also taught how to make reusable pads.”
Remarkably, the recent feat is Qabale’s second high-profile record, having won the Global Citizens’ People’s Choice Award in New York in 2019.
Reacting to the development, Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwelauded Qabale’s “hard work and her fearless spirit”.
Marsabit County Referral Hospital Director Liban Wako said “this award means so much to young girls in Marsabit – that they too can achieve their dreams.”
