President Droupadi Murmu presents the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 & 2023 to Nurses, at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Delhi – On June 22, 2023, a historic event took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, India. The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to the nursing professionals who have shown exemplary service and dedication to society. The awards were given to 102 nurses from different states and union territories of India, who have worked in various fields of nursing such as community health, maternal and child health, mental health, geriatric care, palliative care, critical care, infection control, disaster management, education and research.
The National Florence Nightingale Awards were instituted in the year 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to the society. The awards are named after Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing and a pioneer of public health. She was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, and dedicated her life to improving the conditions of the wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. She also established the first school of nursing at St Thomas’ Hospital in London and advocated for better sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition in hospitals and communities. She died on August 13, 1910, in London.
The awards are presented on May 12 every year on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards for the year 2020 were postponed and conferred on November 7, 2020, by the then-President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. The awards for the year 2021 were also delayed and conferred on November 7, 2022, by President Droupadi Murmu. The awards for the years 2022 and 2023 were presented together on June 22, 2023, by President Droupadi Murmu at a special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The award consists of a medal, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs.50,000. The awardees are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare based on their nominations received from the state governments and union territories. The criteria for selection include professional competence, leadership qualities, contribution to nursing education and research, involvement in community health activities, and social welfare.
#WATCH | President Droupadi Murmu presents the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023 to Nurses, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/lRjGAcIODi
— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2023
List of awardees
The list of awardees for the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023 are as follows:
| No. | Awardee | State/UT | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandra Mallik | Andaman & Nicobar | ANM | 2022 |
| 2 | S. Vijaya Saigal | Andaman & Nicobar | Nurse | 2022 |
| 3 | Miriyala Jhansi Rani | Andhra Pradesh | Nurse | 2022 |
| 4 | Longku Yakh | Arunachal Pradesh | LHV | 2022 |
| 5 | Shabrun Khatun | Bihar | ANM | 2022 |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| 98 | Suman Dubey | Uttar Pradesh | Nurse | 2023 |
| 99 | Lissy Achankunju | Uttar Pradesh | Nurse | 2023 |
| 100 | Dona Das Ghosh | West Bengal | ANM | 2023 |
| 101 | Smita Kar | West Bengal | ANM | 2023 |
| 102 | Rina Roy Chowdhury | West Bengal | Nurse | 2023 |
Acronyms:
- ANM: Auxiliary Nurse Midwife
- LHV: Lady Health Visitor
The ceremony was attended by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Shri Rajesh Bhushan, the Director General of Health Services Dr. Sunil Kumar, the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research Dr. Balram Bhargava, the President of Indian Nursing Council Dr. T Dileep Kumar, the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi Dr. Randeep Guleria and other dignitaries.
The President congratulated the awardees and praised their selfless service to humanity. She said that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and play a vital role in providing quality care to patients. She also acknowledged their courage and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked them for saving countless lives. She urged them to continue their noble work with passion and dedication.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Mansukh Mandaviya also lauded the nurses for their exemplary contribution to public health. He said that nurses are not only caregivers but also educators, counselors, and advocates for their patients. He said that nurses have been instrumental in implementing various health programs and schemes of the government such as Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Mission Indradhanush, etc. He also highlighted the initiatives taken by the government to strengthen the nursing sector such as increasing the number of nursing colleges, enhancing the curriculum and training of nurses, providing scholarships and incentives to nurses, creating a national digital platform for nurses, etc.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar also expressed her admiration and gratitude to the nurses for their remarkable service to the nation. She said that nurses are the angels of mercy and compassion who bring hope and healing to the suffering. She said that nurses have shown extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She also emphasized the need to promote the welfare and safety of nurses and ensure their dignity and respect.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Shri Rajesh Bhushan. He thanked the President for gracing the occasion and conferring the awards. He also thanked the ministers, dignitaries, officials, and media for their presence and support. He congratulated the awardees and wished them all success in their future endeavors.
The National Florence Nightingale Awards are a testimony to the excellence and dedication of the nursing professionals in India. They are a source of inspiration and motivation for all the nurses and nursing students in the country. They are also a recognition of the invaluable contribution of nurses to the health and well-being of the society.
