Sat Nov 30 20:03:53 UTC 2024: ## Filipina Nurse Wins Prestigious Global Award
**Manila, Philippines** – Retired Philippine Army Colonel Maria Victoria Juan has been awarded the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024, receiving a US$250,000 cash prize. The award ceremony took place in Bengaluru, India on Thursday. Col. Juan was selected from a pool of ten finalists representing countries including the United States, Kenya, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, India, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
Col. Juan’s selection was lauded for her groundbreaking contributions to nursing in the Philippines. Her achievements include spearheading the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ first aeromedical evacuation system and organizing a mega swabbing center during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating nearly 500,000 tests. Beyond her pandemic response, her work in environmental nursing, utilizing vetiver grass technology to combat soil erosion and water pollution, further solidified her legacy.
Two other Filipino nurses, Laarni Florencio (President of the Philippine Nurses Association of New York) and Nelson Bautista (based in the UAE), were also nominated for the award. Col. Juan’s win highlights the significant contributions of Filipino nurses to global healthcare.
First Piper 