New Delhi

Even at the age of 80, Hindumbi Kaurom Kakkada continues to serve patients at the Government Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kavaratti, marking an extraordinary nursing career spanning more than 53 years. Her lifelong dedication to healthcare in the remote Lakshadweep islands has earned her a place among the Top 10 global finalists of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026, chosen from over 134,000 nominations across 214 countries and regions.

A theatre-trained nurse by profession, Hindumbi has played a crucial role in more than 20,000 surgeries and emergency procedures. Much of her career has unfolded in challenging conditions, including limited infrastructure, poor inter-island transport, and frequent shortages of medical resources.

She began her service at a time when healthcare facilities in Lakshadweep were still in their infancy. Emergency patients were often transported in fishing boats or naval vessels, while essential medicines were sourced from Kochi. In many instances, surgeries and critical procedures had to be carried out during power cuts, sometimes illuminated only by kerosene lamps.

She recalls several life-saving interventions, including a maternal emergency from Agatti Island in which a woman suffering severe bleeding had to be transported by boat to Kavaratti. During the journey, Hindumbi and her team administered a blood transfusion, and both mother and child later survived after a successful Caesarean section.

In another case during the monsoon season, she travelled overnight on a naval ship to Amini Island to assist a woman in labour who could not be evacuated. Despite limited equipment, the team performed a forceps delivery, ensuring the safe birth of the baby and recovery of the mother.

Beyond hospital duties, she has been deeply involved in public health outreach across Lakshadweep, promoting immunisation, hygiene awareness, institutional deliveries, and preventive healthcare. She also contributed to major disease-control efforts, including cholera containment, and remained active during crises such as the 2004 tsunami and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although she formally retired at 60, she returned to service within three months as a contractual nurse and continues to remain actively engaged in patient care. Today, she is fondly remembered by many island residents as the nurse who helped bring them into the world or supported their families during medical emergencies.

Her decades of service were recognised nationally when she received the Florence Nightingale Award from the President of India in 2023. Her latest global recognition as a Top 10 finalist for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026 highlights her extraordinary contribution to healthcare in one of India’s most remote regions.

Aster DM Healthcare founder chairman Azad Moopen praised the role of nurses, saying their contribution extends far beyond bedside care and forms the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide. He noted that the overwhelming response to this year’s award reflects the growing recognition of nursing professionals globally.

The award process involved multiple stages, including eligibility checks, expert evaluation, and a final jury review, with Ernst & Young serving as independent process advisors. One winner will receive a USD 250,000 prize at the awards ceremony in India in July 2026.

Hindumbi, who hails from Kavaratti, belongs to a family with a strong legacy of public service. Her father was associated with India’s freedom movement and is said to have participated in the Dandi March alongside Mahatma Gandhi.

Reflecting on her lifelong vocation, she said, “Nursing is a noble profession. We care for patients with the same compassion we would show our own family.”

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The final winner of the award will be announced at a gala event scheduled for July 2026.