The Queen of England as part of her 2017 News Year Honours, has awarded a Ghanaian-born nurse in the UK.

Cecilia Anim after receiving the award told Accra-based Citi FM she was highly honoured to receive the award.

“I feel greatly honoured and humbled, and I feel that this honour that I received was for all nurses everywhere giving care to patients and making a difference in people’s lives.”

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“It is an honour for everybody because I couldn’t have gotten there on my own. I had the support of my family, especially my husband, my children, my friends, my colleagues at work, who in their own ways contributed. Above all to God be the glory.”

Cecilia Anim who was recognised as one of the prominent minority names said professionalism in nursing was key in caregiving. She urged nurses worldwide to “make sure the patient is safe in the care you are delivering and also respected.”

The 2017 honours were touted as most diverse ever in the almost 100-year history of the Order of the British Empire.

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The New Year Honours were awarded as part of UK’s New Year celebrations at the start of January 2017.

Cecilia Anim is the first black president of the Royal College of Nurses. She has been occupying the position since 2014. Prior to that, she was elected as deputy president of the same college in 2010. She is currently based in Marylebone.

She began her education at the St Ann’s Girls’ School before heading for Midwifery training at the Komfo Anokye Hospital, Kumasi, where she worked before moving to the UK and qualified as a nurse in 1977.

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Cecilia Anim works as a clinical nurse specialist in sexual and reproductive health at the Margaret Pyke Centre in London and specialises in family planning and other aspects of women’s health.

She has a particular interest in menopause and public health issues.