A UAE healthcare firm has presented 10 nurses with new SUVs as an early appreciation ahead of International Nurses Day. The recognition event took place in Abu Dhabi within the network of Burjeel Holdings, the company behind the initiative.
The surprise distribution saw the nurses presented with brand-new Toyota RAV4 SUVs. Company leadership, including Group CEO John Sunil and Group Co-CEO Safeer Ahamed, handed over the keys.
This recognition is part of the "Driving Force Award" program established by Burjeel Holdings to acknowledge nurses who demonstrate service. The awards are timed with the observance of International Nurses Day globally on May 12, marking Florence Nightingale's birth anniversary.
John Sunil stated the award recognizes the dedicated work of nurses. "We often talk about excellence in numbers, metrics, and outcomes. But true nursing excellence lives in the quiet hands that comfort, the voices that reassure, and the hearts that keep hope alive," he said. "The Driving Force Award is our way of saying: we see you; we value you. And we’re deeply grateful."
Recipient Mei Alegre, a Filipino Nurse Manager, expressed being overwhelmed by the gesture. She expected to share her work experiences at the event and did not foresee receiving a gift. "Never in my life did I imagine this," she commented.
Nabil Mohamed Ikbal, another recipient, called the moment "unreal." He shared an experience where his team performed CPR for an extended period on a patient who ultimately survived, reflecting the impact of their work.
Egyptian Nursing Educator Soher Mohammed Ahmed Ali, also an awardee, linked her work to personal experience, stating she channels care into helping others after losing her father to cancer.
The company plans to continue its appreciation efforts by honoring an additional 100 nurses from its hospitals and medical centers with cash prizes in the run‑up to Nurses Day.