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Pinoy Abroad

Silliman University grad wins devt award in London


Filipina nurse Mylene Frieres, a graduate of Silliman University, received the prestigious "2010 Mary Seacole Development Award" at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) headquarters in London. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Frieres was cited for developing a nurse-led Port-a-Cath insertion service for patients with sickle cell disease on red cell exchange program. Frieres, who hails from Panabo, Davao del Norte, received her award in the presence of Anne Milton, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Public Health.   Frieres is an advance nurse practitioner for venous access at London's Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. A graduate of the Silliman University College of Nursing, Frieres is the first Filipino to receive this highly coveted national award.  the Mary Seacole Leadership and Development Awards recognize nurses, midwives, and health visitors around the United Kingdom who make an outstanding contribution to patient care through development and leadership.   The Development Award, worth £6,250 (P422,423), allows recipients to undertake a project that benefits the health needs of people from black and minority ethnic communities.   On the other hand, the Leadership Award worth £12,500 (P844,846) enables nurses, midwives, and health visitors in leadership positions to undertake a project to improve patient care.   The awards were created in honor of the nurse, Mary Seacole, who contributed to nursing in the 19th century, including nursing wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War.   They are funded jointly by the UK Department of Health and NHS Employers who work in partnership with the RCN and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).   "The positive contribution of Filipino nurses and health care workers in the United Kingdom is highly appreciated by the British Government. Their care and compassion are sought after by patients. Our nurses are truly ambassadors of goodwill of the Philippines," said Philippine Ambassador to London Enrique Manalo.   The other recipients of the 2010 Mary Seacole Development Awards included:

  • Sarah Bennet of St. James University Hospital
  • Naomi Douglas of Community Health Oxfordshire
  • Opal Greyson of Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.
The DFA said there are 60,000 Filipino health care workers in the UK, including 30,000 Filipino nurses.   It said there are about 250,000 Filipinos in the UK, organized into various professional, regional, and educational associations, including the Silliman University Alumni Association-United Kingdom Chapter of which Freires is an active member of its Board of Directors. - VVP, GMA News
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