Dubai: Filipino nurse who won over Dh900,000 award plans to invest in community health initiatives
Today, at the age of 57, Maria stands as a true angel of mercy, having recently won the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024 and being awarded a grant worth more than Dh900,000 at a prestigious award ceremony held in India.
Maria's journey was influenced by personal tragedy. 'My aunt's death made me realise the sacrifices nurses make,' she told Khaleej Times. 'It pushed me to pursue a path that could honor her legacy.' Determined to make a difference, Maria pursued a career as a military nurse, joining the Philippine Army at the age of 22.
Her adventurous spirit and fearless nature drove her forward, despite the shadows of her aunt's tragedy. 'I've always been an adventurous soul,' she shared. 'I didn't let fear dictate my choices. Instead, I embraced challenges head-on.' Her dedication and commitment led her to become the Army Nurse Chief at the age of 49.
In her role, Maria has significantly contributed to the well-being of frontline soldiers. She has been instrumental in developing programmes that aid those injured in combat, ensuring they receive the best possible care. 'Our soldiers are heroes,' she stated. 'It's my duty to support them in their fight, both on and off the battlefield.'
At 54, she pioneered the first aeromedical evacuation system within the Armed Forces, significantly enhancing survival rates by facilitating quick evacuation and prompt treatment of casualties, particularly in conflict zones. She embarked on an intensive nine-month aeromedical evacuation training programme while overcoming her fear of flying and deep water to complete over 200 hours of emergency ambulance conduction, alongside rigorous survival training.
'I knew that timely intervention could make a difference between life and death for our soldiers,' Maria stated. 'Implementing the aeromedical evacuation system was not just a project; it was a mission to save lives.' She emphasised, 'Every second counts in emergencies, and this system allows us to provide critical care when it matters most.'
Receiving the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award in 2024 came as a surprise to Maria, who currently serves as a consultant at the Philippine Army Health Services and holds the rank of Colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. She was selected from a pool of 78,000 nurses across 202 countries. 'When I was selected, I was truly honoured. I realised this recognition isn't just for me; it's for all the nurses in the Philippines who work tirelessly behind the scenes.'
With the USD 250,000 prize in hand, Maria plans to invest in community health initiatives, emphasising that her mission is not just personal success but a collective upliftment of her community.
Maria plans to use the prize to promote environmental sustainability and enhance community health through key initiatives. One major project is the 'Nursing the Environment Programme', which employs vetiver technology for soil erosion control and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, she aims to empower communities in trauma management by offering hands-on training workshops and distributing first aid kits to improve emergency preparedness.
"Investing in our environment and communities isn't just a responsibility; it's an opportunity to create lasting change,' she states. Maria believes these initiatives will honor her nursing legacy and positively impact future generations.
The award, launched by Aster DM Healthcare in 2021, aims to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of nurses worldwide, with the 2025 edition open for applications and closing on February 28.
'Every nurse has a unique story and impact worth sharing,' said Maria as she encouraged fellow nurses to apply for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, highlighting that their hard work and dedication deserve recognition. 'This award is not just for me; it's for all nurses who strive to make a difference. I hope my journey encourages others to pursue their own paths and seek the recognition they deserve.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
How Abu Dhabi's halfway houses help recovering drug addicts return to society
Abu Dhabi's halfway houses are offering recovering drug addicts more than a roof over their heads; they are providing structure, therapy, and a path back to society. The houses are backed by creative holistic treatment methods involving their family members and gradual release back to society; Khaleej Times spoke to field doctors who detailed how the project supports reintegration into society. Launched in May 2023 by the Family Care Authority (FCA), the halfway house project supports people after they complete medical detox or in-patient psychiatric care. 'The goal is to reintegrate into society and be an active person economically and socially after the treatment period,' said Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of the FCA. Unlike traditional rehabilitation centres, the FCA's halfway houses combine inpatient and outpatient services, with a capacity for 21 residential patients and up to 200 in outpatient care. Cases arrive through walk-ins, referrals from treatment facilities, or from the police, prosecutors and courts. 'What we do is basically rewiring human behaviour,' said Al Ameemi. 'We work on the psychological side, the emotional side, the professional side, and the quality of the person so that he can return to normal life and be able to take responsibility for himself.' A structured recovery The halfway house programme follows a phased approach. Dr Alyaa Aljasmi, Halfway Houses Division Manager, explained: 'The first phase is about medical stabilisation during the first month. The second phase is more about psychological and social rehabilitation, with specialised programmes such as behavioural therapy. The third phase is the reintegration phase, making sure the person can work, prepare for a job interview, and integrate gradually into society.' Daily life is highly structured. 'They wake up between 8.30 and 9am, have breakfast and medications, then meditation, followed by group therapy,' said psychiatrist Dr Shokry Alemam, chief doctor at the half-way facility. Sessions cover cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, relapse prevention, and a 12-step programme. 'In the afternoon they have physical exercises, dedicated time for reading, homework, supervised entertainment,' he said. 'At the end of the day they have reflection sessions, and lights off by midnight.' Family at the core What sets Abu Dhabi's model apart is its integration of families into the recovery process. 'The international models are based on individualism. But here we're a collective society, so family is there,' said Al Ameemi. 'We believe this support system is very important, so they are not judged by society or their family.' Family involvement starts on day one. 'We do family counselling, family therapy, marital therapy, couple therapy, according to the marital status. Some families treat the beneficiary as if it's misbehaviour, not a disorder,' said Dr Shoukry. 'One of the major changes is to change the stigma, and understand that it's a disorder.' Preventing relapse Relapse prevention is a top priority for the programme, with individualised plans addressing three main risk factors — places, situations and people. 'We prepare the plan with them to avoid places with related memories and people who are active users,' said Dr Shokry. 'If they find themselves in a risky situation, they are more than welcome to join us again, just to protect themselves.' The approach appears to be working. 'Most of our beneficiaries have integrated successfully with their families; at least half of them have secured jobs in the private sector,' said Dr Alyaa Innovative therapies The halfway houses use a range of methods rarely seen in the region. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is led by renowned specialist Professor Andreas. 'Horses have the ability to reflect internal emotions, which helps beneficiaries express emotional conflicts they can't express verbally,' explained Dr Shokry. Neurofeedback targets specific brain areas linked to addiction, depression, ADHD and other conditions. 'We create a treatment plan, and the beneficiary receives at least 20 sessions for each method — this helps modify the function of brain cells to return to normal levels,' he said. Art and movement therapy further support emotional expression. A gradual return to life Integration into society is carefully paced. 'It's gradual; the patient goes home for two days and then stays at the halfway house. The days at home increase as we make sure he is applying the skills he learned,' said Dr Alyaa. 'If he (or she) faces challenges, they should go back to the medical team.' The programme is voluntary, which Al Ameemi considers a success factor in itself. 'As long as the person voluntarily wants to be treated, this is a success story,' she said. For many, the biggest fear is not drugs, but life itself. 'The speed of life makes them afraid. They live in structured environments for a long time, so when they leave, they feel they need to return to that structure,' explained Al Ameemi. 'They are also afraid their family will go back to doubt or lack of trust.' The FCA hopes the model will expand across Abu Dhabi emirate. 'We are here to support this group because they need this kind of medical and social support to return to normal life,' she added. 'When we succeed, we can go to the region and show it to people.'
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Future of Healthcare Summit to gather top experts in Dubai
Senior healthcare leaders from across the region are set to convene in Dubai for the 5th Future of Healthcare Summit 2025. Under the theme 'Echoes of Tomorrow | Building the Future of Care,' the summit will showcase the UAE's commitment to transforming healthcare through innovation, technology and strategic collaboration. As the UAE reimagines its healthcare future in alignment with UAE Vision 2031, the summit emerges as a vital platform, not merely for dialogue but for decisive action. It will explore how advanced technologies such as AI, connected infrastructure, precision medicine and value-based care can be scaled responsibly, ensuring patient outcomes, access, and wellbeing remain at the heart of every transformation. In a special highlight, Khaleej Times will also unveil the UAE's top healthcare leaders, honouring individuals driving excellence, innovation and impact across the health sector. Future of Healthcare 2025 is designed to catalyse cross-sector collaboration. The event will convene senior leaders from ministries of health, private healthcare groups, digital health innovators, research institutions and strategic investors to shape sustainable, future-ready healthcare models tailored to the UAE's unique population needs and growth trajectory. The theme 'Echoes of Tomorrow | Building the Future of Care' serves as both a challenge and a call to action, reminding us that the healthcare decisions made today will reverberate for generations. In a country investing boldly in AI, smart cities, and health-tech ecosystems, the future of care is no longer conceptual; it is being actively engineered. KT Events is currently accepting speaker submissions from thought leaders driving transformation in digital health, patient experience, regulation and sustainable investment. Strategic sponsorship and media partnership opportunities are also available for brands seeking to align with the region's most influential healthcare decision-makers. As healthcare becomes central to the UAE's knowledge economy and technological leadership, the Future of Healthcare Summit 2025 stands as a landmark gathering, where global vision meets regional ambition and innovation leads the way forward. For those shaping the intersection of health, policy, and innovation in the UAE and beyond, this summit is a blueprint for the future of care.
Khaleej Times
05-08-2025
- Khaleej Times
AI, precision medicine: Future of Healthcare Summit 2025 to gather top experts in Dubai
Senior healthcare leaders from across the region are set to convene in Dubai for the 5th Future of Healthcare Summit 2025. Under the theme 'Echoes of Tomorrow | Building the Future of Care,' the summit will showcase the UAE's commitment to transforming healthcare through innovation, technology, and strategic collaboration. As the UAE reimagines its healthcare future in alignment with UAE Vision 2031, the summit emerges as a vital platform, not merely for dialogue, but for decisive action. It will explore how advanced technologies such as AI, connected infrastructure, precision medicine, and value-based care can be scaled responsibly, ensuring patient outcomes, access, and wellbeing remain at the heart of every transformation. In a special highlight, Khaleej Times will also unveil the UAE's Top Healthcare Leaders, honouring individuals driving excellence, innovation, and impact across the health sector. Future of Healthcare 2025 is designed to catalyze cross-sector collaboration. The event will convene senior leaders from ministries of health, private healthcare groups, digital health innovators, research institutions, and strategic investors to shape sustainable, future-ready healthcare models tailored to the UAE's unique population needs and growth trajectory. The theme 'Echoes of Tomorrow | Building the Future of Care' serves as both a challenge and a call to action, reminding us that the healthcare decisions made today will reverberate for generations. In a country investing boldly in AI, smart cities, and health-tech ecosystems, the future of care is no longer conceptual; it is being actively engineered. KT Events is currently accepting speaker submissions from thought leaders driving transformation in digital health, patient experience, regulation, and sustainable investment. Strategic sponsorship and media partnership opportunities are also available for brands seeking to align with the region's most influential healthcare decision-makers. As healthcare becomes central to the UAE's knowledge economy and technological leadership, the Future of Healthcare Summit 2025 stands as a landmark gathering, where global vision meets regional ambition, and innovation leads the way forward. For those shaping the intersection of health, policy, and innovation in the UAE and beyond, this summit is a blueprint for the future of care.
