MOMBASA — Khadija Mohamed Juma, a 29-year-old nurse from Mombasa, has been named among the world’s top nurses for her pioneering work in blood donation, earning second place in the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2025 in Dubai.
Juma, who works at Tudor Sub-county Hospital, was celebrated for founding RedSplash, a community-driven blood donation programme that uses a smart algorithm to connect donors to patients in urgent need. Her model is as simple as it is ambitious: “Deliver blood faster than pizza.”
Speaking after the ceremony, she said: “This isn’t just about medicine it’s about saving lives when seconds count. RedSplash began with heartbreak, but it’s turned into hope for thousands.”
Juma’s inspiration came after witnessing the preventable death of a friend’s mother, who died waiting for a blood transfusion. Moved by the tragedy, she took action. What began as grassroots outreach in schools and mosques has grown into a nationwide campaign that’s reshaped the way Kenyans think about blood donation.
RedSplash has organised over 500 donation drives, collected 25,000 units of blood, and, by some estimates, helped save as many as 75,000 lives. The programme relies on volunteer donors and smart matching software that alerts them when their blood type is needed nearby.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir led tributes at home, calling Juma’s recognition “a proud moment for African healthcare.”
“She’s proof that world-class innovation doesn’t need to come from major capitals it can start in a small ward in Tudor,” he said in a message shared online. “You’ve made Mombasa, Kenya, and Africa proud.”
Juma was selected from more than 100,000 nominations across 199 countries. The overall winner, Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, an oncology specialist from Ghana, took home the $250,000 prize. Juma’s achievement as runner-up, however, shines a spotlight on the critical role of nurses in tackling Africa’s healthcare gaps.
Healthcare professionals across Kenya have long warned of the dangers posed by blood shortages and black-market trade in blood. By prioritising rapid, transparent delivery, RedSplash offers a safer and more ethical alternative.
“We need to treat blood like the emergency resource it is not something to be stored and rationed in crisis,” Juma said in an earlier interview.
Now, she hopes to take RedSplash further, building Kenya’s first independent blood bank and equipping mobile donation vans to reach remote areas.
For a country where medical shortages often make headlines, Juma’s recognition is a rare moment of hope and a reminder of what’s possible when public service meets personal passion.
