Amelia Latu Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu, PhD, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has received the HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award from the American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC).
The award, according to a statement by the ANCC, recognises extraordinary contributions to international health care and nursing, was presented during ANCC’s Magnet and Pathway to Excellence Conferences in New Orleans last week.
“Dr Tu’ipulotu’s leadership and her transformative impact on global health systems make her an outstanding recipient,” ANCC President Laura J. Wood said.
Dr Tu’ipulotu, a former Health Minister for Tonga, made history as the first woman to lead the country’s health ministry.
She played a pivotal role in controlling Tonga’s measles outbreak in 2019 and led an effective COVID-19 response, managing both crises with no reported deaths.
Her contributions to Tonga’s health standards and her ongoing role at WHO reflect her commitment to advancing nursing on an international scale. This award, named after Jordan’s Princess Muna Al Hussein, is given only when merited by exceptional achievements, highlighting Dr Tu’ipulotu’s impact in advocating for nurses and midwives globally.