Medical Scholars
Assisting Muslim Women to Become Nurses
The AAI nursing programs are a beacon of hope for the entire community. Our goal is to build a quality health system accessible to all. Supported by AAI, Sulu State College and Mindanao State University nursing students are now performing among the top 20 percent of all such schools in the Philippines - compared to a 30 percent student pass rate in 2015. These programs, start with training girls and boys mini-nurses and junior firefighters in 4th to 6th grade to assist their school nurses and learn the fundamentals of care by providing aid to fellow students.
Globally, Muslim and indigenous tribal women have lacked educational opportunities to benefit their communities even though nurses are the framework of public health. In 2015, AAI began supporting a Nursing program in Sulu Province, Philippines and in rural areas of Visayas region, where social conflict was pervasive. Sulu, located near Malaysia and Indonesia is a region of 19 island districts with 360 islands, a population of 1 million, and only 16 medical doctors and an inadequate number of qualified nurses and midwives. Our goal was to provide 50 female students with a quality education to launch their medical and psychology careers.
This year the need for new nurses in the Philippines and around the world has intensified. No matter if we focus on developed or underdeveloped countries, new nurses are in high demand. But the intensity of natural calamities storms and earthquakes, as well as rising poverty, has created tremendous challenges in our post-Covid19 world. Illnesses, burn-out and stress caused many to leave the profession. Yet, there are many young women from all walks of life - including AAI scholars - who give their all to fulfill their dream of becoming a nurse or other medical professional. Many of our scholars must walk long distances to college or hospital internship duties in knee to waist deep flood waters, which cause many illnesses.
As the program enters its tenth year, the percentage of our scholars completing their studies and passing the License Examinations continues to grow. This school year, we seek to support up to 50 female nursing students with basic educational needs, classroom materials and lab fees, graduation fees and the cost of living for licensing exams. We now have supported more than 500 deserving women to become licensed Registered Nurses, Midwives, Psychologists and Technicians who provide professional life-saving care to their communities. Other AAI scholarship graduates are currently working in well-respected hospitals overseas, where shortages are also serious. The nurses will provide vital services and expand the employment base in some of the most economically deprived areas of the world.
