20 July 2020 – Two Filipinos were among the 100 nurses honoured with the Nurses’ Merit Award (NMA) on 8 July 2020 – Ms. Arlene Dergam Aleta, Nurse Manager at the St. Andrew’s Community Hospital; and Mr. Niel Caderao Cahatian, Assistant Nurse Manager at the All Saints Home.
Started in 1976, the NMA is awarded to nurses who have displayed noteworthy and exceptional performance, participated in professional development, and contributed to raising the standard of the nursing profession. Nurses are nominated for the award by their healthcare institutions and selected by a panel set up by the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH).
The award comes with a medal and a cash prize of $1,000.
The awarding of NMA this year comes at a time when the nursing profession in Singapore marks its 135th anniversary. The WHO has also designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
“Filipino nurses have always been known for their dedication, professionalism and technical capability worldwide. The NMA recognition accorded to Ms. Aleta and Mr. Cahatian is another testament to that. As Filipino nurses find themselves at the frontlines all over the world bravely participating in the global fight against COVID-19, may this award inspire all Filipino nurses to continue to uphold the highest standards in their profession,” Ambassador Joseph del Mar Yap said. END
