Nurse Maria Victoria Juan, who was inspired by her aunt's military nursing career, has been awarded the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024. The award, presented by Dr. Azad Moopen, founder chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, includes a grant of over Dh900,000. Maria, now a consultant at Philippine Army Health Services and Colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, spearheaded the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Philippines, significantly improving survival rates in conflict areas.
At 54, Maria completed a rigorous nine-month aeromedical evacuation training program while serving as the Chief Nurse of the Philippine Army. Her training included 200 hours of emergency ambulance conduct, 100 hours of clinical duty, a one-mile ocean swim, three-day jungle survival, helicopter underwater escape, and flight medical runs. This achievement was made despite her initial fears of flying and deepwater swimming.
Dr. Azad Moopen praised Maria, stating, 'She represents the highest standards of nursing excellence and inspires the global healthcare community.' The award, launched in 2021, aims to recognize the exceptional contributions of nurses worldwide. This year's edition saw 78,000 applications from 202 countries, a 50% increase from 2023.
Maria also led environmental health initiatives, including the use of vetiver grass technology to combat soil erosion and water pollution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she organized the Endurun Mega Swabbing Center, which conducted nearly 500,000 tests, significantly aiding the country's pandemic response.
The nine other finalists, representing countries like Kenya, Papua New Guinea, the USA, Uganda, the UAE, India, Singapore, and England, were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to nursing.
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