Human rights award winners put the spotlight on nursing

Dorcas Gwata and Yusrita Zolkefli praised for work with gang culture and professional ethics

A nurse who supports young people affected by gang culture in London has received a human rights award from the University of Surrey.

Public health specialist nurse Dorcas Gwata works in Westminster City Council’s Integrated Gangs Unit, providing help to young people and their families. 

Ms Gwata previously won the Mental Health category of the 2015 Nursing Standard Nurse Awards, which recognised her innovative engagement with difficult-to-reach young people, as well as her culturally sensitive approach to families and communities affected by gang culture.

Relationship between ethics and care

The university’s Human Rights and Nursing Award was also given to University of Brunei lecturer in nursing and midwifery Yusrita Zolkefli.

Ms Zolkefli was central to the development of the professional ethics curriculum in Brunei, which included establishing classes to stimulate debate on nursing ethics and its relationship to care and development.

Both recipients received their awards at a ceremony at the 20th International Nursing Ethics Conference, and the 5th International Ethics in Care Conference, at the university on 24-25 July.

‘Nurses are society’s unsung heroes’

University of Surrey International Care Ethics Observatory director Ann Gallagher said: ‘Nurses and other care-givers are society’s unsung heroes, providing dedicated care to people who need it most, while also playing a crucial role in training the next generation, be it in the classroom or on a ward.

‘It is important that we recognise this and celebrate the difference nurses make to individuals and communities, as well as their efforts to advance human rights around the globe.’

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