Dame Elizabeth Anionwu – the University of West London’s inspiring Emeritus Professor of Nursing – has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award after dedicating her career to transforming care for people with sickle cell disease.  

Professor Dame Elizabeth was presented with the honour by singer, Janet Jackson at the 2019 Pride of Britain Awards ceremony.

Now 72-years-old, Dame Elizabeth was the UK’s first sickle cell nurse specialist, and heavily involved in setting up the Sickle Cell Society which this year celebrated its 40th anniversary.  

Inspired by a caring nurse at her former children’s home, she started working as a school nursing assistant in Wolverhampton at the age of 16 – beginning what would go on to become a 50-year career as a nurse, tutor and professor.

Her passion for challenging inequalities in healthcare led her – along with Dr Misha Brozovic - to set up the UK’s first sickle cell and thalassaemia screening and counselling centre, in the London Borough of Brent in 1979.  

Charmagne Barnes, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of UWL’s College of Nursing, Midwifery, Healthcare, said:

This is a well-deserved honour for Professor Dame Elizabeth.

We are privileged to have her as a part of our as our university community where she brings passion and enthusiasm to so many people.