Kenyan nurse Khadija Mohamed Juma has earned global recognition after emerging runner-up in the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2025, held in Dubai on Monday. The 29-year-old, who serves at Tudor Sub-county Hospital in Mombasa, was celebrated for her innovative contributions to blood donation services in Kenya.
The top prize, which comes with a cash award of $250,000, was won by Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, an Oncology Nurse Specialist from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Oti and Khadija were selected from over 100,000 nominations submitted from 199 countries, and both emerged among the top ten global finalists, highlighting the growing footprint of African healthcare excellence on the world stage.
Khadija’s recognition drew praise from Mombasa Governor Abdulswammad Sharrif Nassir, who described her as a beacon of community healthcare. “Her journey is a testament to the power of community-rooted healthcare, resilience, and compassion,” said the governor. “You’ve made Mombasa, Kenya, and Africa proud. Hongera sana.”
Khadija is the founder of RedSplash, a ground-breaking initiative that is revolutionising blood donation in Kenya. Through a Smart Donor Search algorithm, the platform connects blood donors to patients in real time. Her efforts have led to over 500 donation drives, the collection of more than 25,000 units of blood, and the saving of an estimated 75,000 lives.
Her mission began after a personal loss—the death of a friend’s mother due to delayed blood transfusion. Determined to change the system, she launched RedSplash to encourage voluntary donation, dispel myths, and mobilise communities, schools, and mosques. Her slogan, “Deliver blood faster than pizza,” challenges the black-market blood trade and aims to modernise Kenya’s blood bank systems with mobile units and a central RedSplash Blood Bank.
Meanwhile, Naomi Oti, the overall winner, was recognised for her outstanding impact on cancer care in Africa. Serving as Head of Nursing at Ghana’s National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, she has been instrumental in improving access to cancer treatment across the continent.
The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award celebrates nurses who demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation, and leadership in healthcare. The 2025 ceremony marked a proud moment for African healthcare, with both Oti and Khadija flying the continent’s flag high.
