ANCC Announces 2024 HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award Winner: Chief Nursing Officer of World Health Organization, Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu
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(October 31, 2024, Silver Spring, MD) - Today, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) presented Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer (CNO) of the World Health Organization (WHO), with the prestigious HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award. This distinguished award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to international health care and demonstrated an exceptional dedication to nursing. The award was conferred at the co-located ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in New Orleans.
“Dr. Tuipulotu’s commendable leadership and commitment to transforming global health systems for the benefit of nurses and midwives made her a clear standout for this award,” said ANCC President Laura J. Wood, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Her impact on the nursing profession, not only in her home country of Tonga but also worldwide, is profound. It is my great honor to recognize her for her extraordinary service to the nursing profession and to public health globally.”
Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu made history as the first female Minister for Health for the Kingdom of Tonga, successfully leading the nation’s response to a challenging measles outbreak in 2019 impacting Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, and the subsequent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During her tenure, both emergencies were managed without reported deaths. She served as Tonga’s National CNO and contributed to the development of the Tonga National Professional Standards for registered nurses. In addition to her work in Tonga, Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu has received various accolades for her contributions to international health care, including the Knight Grand Cross: Royal Order of the Crown of the Kingdom of Tonga, awarded by His Majesty King Tupou VI. Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu was also named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2024 and holds an Adjunct Professorship from the University of Sydney.
Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu serves on the WHO Executive Board in addition to her current position as CNO of WHO, where she champions the largest global health workforce of nurses and midwives. Through her leadership, she continues to drive health system reforms to promote health equity, safety, and the well-being of vulnerable populations worldwide.
The HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award is named in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan, reflecting her deep commitment to advancing nursing on a global scale. Recipients are selected by the ANCC president, and the award is conferred when an individual’s contributions merit this distinguished honor.
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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on X. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.