The world’s best nurse will this week be named at a ceremony in London, with nominees including the Abu Dhabi-based founder of a mentoring programme and a UK diabetes specialist who helps identify and treat rare types of the disease.
Ten finalists have been selected from more than 52,000 entries to compete for the Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award, which offers a $250,000 (Dh981,500) prize.
They include UAE-based Irish nurse Cathy Cribben-Pearse, who founded OakTree Mentoring, a programme for 200 nurses and midwives from around the world.
She said the award underscored how varied the profession is.
Ms Cribben-Pearse, who has lived in the UAE since 2014, left her job as a senior nurse for Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to set up the company.
She told The National: “I am a nurse, a midwife and I am also an executive coach.
“During the pandemic I offered my services online and in the evenings during lockdown here. So I had a huge response and I was coaching healthcare professionals from all over the world.
“A trend started to emerge, that they didn’t know what coaching was. And they were looking to me for mentorship.
“That’s where the thought of OakTree Mentoring was planted.”
She works with nurses and midwives to match them with others that offer them support in their goal.
“That goal could be a career goal, it could be a personal goal, it could be a lifestyle goal,” she said.
“We help nurses and midwives because it is my bread and butter. Nursing is my DNA. I am a nurse and a midwife. We are a breed all unto ourselves. It’s my language.”
Fellow nominee Margaret Helen Shepherd, lead nurse for research at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, set up a national network of genetic diabetes nurses in the UK in 2002 to raise awareness of the little-known condition, monogenic diabetes.
It occurs due to changes in a single gene.
“Of the different types of diabetes we deal with, there are 33 different genes that can cause a different type of diabetes and need a different type of treatment,” she told The National.
One category is diabetes diagnosed within the first six months of life.
“We call that neonatal diabetes," she said. "A number of those patients ... are better managed without insulin and with a really old-fashioned tablet called Glibenclamide, which can actually improve the blood sugars and enable those people to make their own insulin.”
She said discovering patients' particular type of diabetes can change their lives. One of her patients was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a baby.
She was referred for a genetic test, which revealed that her diabetes resulted from a change in gene, which meant she was able to stop her insulin injections after 43 years.
“She was able to lose weight for the first time," Ms Shepherd said. "She had not managed to lose weight on insulin. She was able to get her heavy goods vehicle licence because she runs a family transport business and she had been banned from doing that when she was on insulin.
“So, in terms of making a difference that’s just one story. I have loads of stories like that. Just to be part of making that diagnosis and making her consultant aware through the teaching that we ran nationally, that has absolutely changed her life. And for me to be part of that is really humbling.”
Other nominees for the award include Christine Mawia Sammy, a nurse in Kenya who established the first newborn unit in Kitui county in 2010; and Shanti Teresa Lakra, a nurse based in India who has worked among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The other finalists work in Panama, Ireland, Singapore, Tanzania and the Philippines.
In Panama, Gloria Ceballo developed an educational programme for nurses in a bone-marrow transplant unit, while in Ireland, Jincy Jerry was nominated for her work in cutting down on the potential for human error while collating results from laboratories.
In Singapore, Lilian Yew Siew Mee was nominated for her work in helping set up 14 vaccination centres during the pandemic, while Michael Joseph’s efforts in the Philippines to establish a telehealth programme for seniors earned him a place as a finalist.
Portuguese nominee Teresa Fraga set up a palliative care unit for children with chronic illnesses and in Tanzania, Wilson Gwessa Fungameza was selected for introducing the Improvised Bubble CPAP Device, which drastically reduced neonatal deaths from respiratory problems.
Dr Azad Moopen, founder, chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare in the UAE, said each of the nominees had made a “significant contribution to the field of nursing”.
He said: “Millions of nurses across the world are working hard every single day to serve their patients and form the core of the healthcare ecosystem.
“Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is our way of acknowledging their dedication and recognising their work.
"This year, with more than 50,000 nurses vying for the coveted award, it has been a hard task for the eminent jury members to shortlist the top-10 outstanding nurses.
"Each of the finalists have a remarkable trajectory and have made significant contribution to the field of nursing. We wish each of them all the very best.”
Last year's prize was won by Anna Qabale Duba from Kenya for her work in helping to protect vulnerable women and children in Africa.
This year’s winner will be announced at a ceremony in central London on Friday, which is International Nurses Day.
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
