Sun Dec 01 02:43:24 UTC 2024: ## Filipino Nurse Wins $250,000 Global Nursing Award, Plans to Invest in Community Healthcare
**Dubai, UAE –** Colonel Maria Victoria Juan, a 54-year-old military nurse from the Philippines, has been awarded the prestigious $250,000 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024. She beat out 78,000 applicants from 202 countries for the honor, announced Thursday night in Bengaluru, India.
Juan, a consultant at Philippine Army Health Services, was recognized for her pioneering work, including establishing the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This system has significantly improved the survival rates of casualties, particularly in conflict zones. Her commitment extends beyond military service; she has also spearheaded environmental initiatives using vetiver grass for soil erosion control and water purification, and led a massive COVID-19 testing center.
In a phone interview with Gulf News, Juan dedicated her win to Filipino nurses worldwide and announced her plans to use the prize money to improve healthcare access in her home country. Her initiatives will focus on providing advanced life-saving equipment and training to Filipino households, empowering communities to better manage trauma and emergencies. She also plans to expand her successful vetiver grass projects.
The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, founded by Aster DM Healthcare in 2021, aims to highlight the critical contributions of nurses globally. Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, praised Juan as an inspiration to the global healthcare community. The award ceremony also included a message from the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Nine other finalists from around the world also received monetary prizes for their outstanding contributions to nursing.
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