GUBA INTERVIEWS: DR CECILIA ANIM CBE, RECIPIENT OF GUBA OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD
Written by Ebenezer Narh
Dr Cecilia Akrisie Anim CBE is the President of the Royal College of Nursing and is a clinical nurse specialist in sexual and reproductive health at the Margaret Pyke Centre in London, where she has worked for almost 40 years.
In the Queen’s 2017 New Year’s Honours list, Mrs Anim was awarded a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), in recognition of her role as a nurse and contribution to her community. She is very involved in local issues and is also Chair of the Board of Governors at her local primary school. All her actions are strongly based on her deep commitment to her faith, believing she has a duty to exercise her God-given talents to the benefit of others.
The excellent leadership that Dr Cecilia Anim CBE has demonstrated and continues to exhibit, justifiably merited her the GUBA 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award. After receiving the award, we got in touch with her to find out more about the person behind the accolades.
How does it feel to be the recipient of the GUBA 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award?
As President of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) representing almost half a million nurses, midwives, students and HCA’s, I feel humbled and extremely honoured to be recognized by GUBA with the 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award.
How would you use being the recipient of this award to influence others and how would it impact your career?
Being the recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Leadership will have enormous impact on my career and even advance the work that I do. I have spent all of my career in the NHS engaging and empowering members to take an active role in the college to improve care outcomes. Having been recognized by GUBA for my Leadership, I will continue to do so as well as lobbying for investment in healthcare and education.
What motivates or keeps you going?
First of all, I draw a lot motivation from my family. Caring for them as a mother and grandmother inspires me to keep going on. Secondly, making a difference in the lives of my patients and colleagues motivates me a lot. For me, Nursing doesn’t stop when I leave the clinic; I do it all the time. And lastly, my faith also plays a major part in my journey.
Is there any advice you would like to share with people who admire you or look up to you as a role-model?
My advice to young people is to be resilient, humble and stay committed to their cause. If they believe in their actions, they should not give up on them. And more importantly, they should learn to deal with challenges in a positive way and not be afraid to fail.
What are your impressions of the GUBA Awards?
I think the organization of the GUBA Awards was exquisite. The ambience, performances and presentation were all spot on. It was an excellent and memorable experience for me, and I encourage GUBA to continue with the good work of celebrating the achievements of Ghanaians in the diaspora.
What should we look forward to from you in the coming years?
I have a passion for the care of people with learning difficulties and autism. So in the coming years, I will continue to create greater awareness and lobby for more resources in this area for education and care.
