Symbol of Seva, Shushrusha and Karuna! President felicitates 36 nurses with National Florence Nightingale Awards

New Delhi, December 5: President of India Ram Nath Kovind today presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards to nursing personnel on the occasion of International Nurses Day. President awarded 36 nurses for their meritorious services in the healthcare sector.

 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that nurses play a vital role in delivering quality and cost effective healthcare, addressing multiple health challenges and responding to health needs of individuals, families and communities. 

 

“The world is more and more in need of care and compassion, and nurses indeed are a symbol of Seva, Shushrusha, Karuna. For patients and their families, nurses are the face of healthcare services,” said the President. He was happy to note that the World Health Organisation has announced 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Mid-wife.

 

Kerala's Lini Puthussery, who died due to Nipah virus infection in May last year, was awarded posthumously for her "unsurpassed dedication in taking care of patients during the Nipah virus outbreak in the state".

 

 

 

The President further said that we have an increasing number of elderly people who deserve and require proper geriatric care. In India, families take care of our elders in their old age. However, with changing lifestyles the demand for professional care-givers to take care of the elderly is on the rise. 

 

“These care-givers, who need not be trained nurses, would certainly benefit from basic training in geriatric care. Our nursing training institutions can consider developing short training programs for such care-givers too,” said the President.