Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE FRCN

Ep. 71 Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE FRCN   - Really Interesting Women podcast

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu’s amazing career and life had as its foundation, very humble beginnings.  

 A tough childhood in the 1940’s and 1950’s was marked by the stigma of illegitimacy and racism. Despite all this, it was the kindness of one particular nun at a children’s home when she was a very young child that resonated so much with her that, even at that age, it would stay with her forever and eventually lead to her life’s work. 

Dame Elizabeth spent 40 years in the nursing profession in the UK and has been named one of the most influential nurses in the 70-year history of the National Health Scheme.

Back In 1979, she became the United Kingdom's first sickle cell and thalassaemia nurse specialist, helping establish the Brent Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Counselling centre. There are now 30 such centres in the UK.

 In 1998, by then a professor of nursing, she created the Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice at the University of West London where she is Emeritus Professor of Nursing, she holds a PhD, was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). 

 But despite all this....as someone who never had a black role model until she met her father late in life...I would venture to guess that Dame Elizabeth Anionwu is most proud of being an inspiration and role model to her granddaughter.

 Head to my dedicated Really Interesting Women Instagram account:@richardinstagraham, to see some fabulous photos capturing part of Dame Elizabeth’s journey. 

Dame Elizabeth’s  book Dreams From My Mother

https://www.booktopia.com.au/dreams-from-my-mother-dame-elizabeth-anionwu/book/9781841885223.html)

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