Sun Dec 01 00:43:47 UTC 2024: ## Filipino Military Nurse Wins Prestigious Global Nursing Award
**MUMBAI, INDIA** – Colonel Maria Victoria Juan, a military nurse from the Philippines, has been awarded the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024, receiving a grant exceeding Dh900,000 (approximately $243,000 USD). The award, presented at a ceremony in India, recognizes Juan’s pioneering work in establishing the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, significantly improving survival rates in conflict zones.
Juan, 54, underwent rigorous training to implement this system, overcoming personal fears to master skills including emergency ambulance procedures, jungle survival, and underwater helicopter escape. Beyond her contributions to aeromedical evacuation, she has also spearheaded environmental health initiatives using vetiver grass technology and played a vital role in the Philippines’ COVID-19 response by organizing a large-scale testing center.
The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, launched in 2021 by UAE-based Aster DM Healthcare, saw a record-breaking 78,000 applications from 202 countries this year, a 50% increase from 2023. Dr. Azad Moopen, founder chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, praised Juan as an example of nursing excellence and highlighted the exceptional contributions of all finalists and applicants. Nine other finalists from around the globe also received monetary prizes. The selection process was overseen by Ernst & Young LLP.
First Piper 