President Pranab Mukherjee confers Florence Nightingale Awards to 35 Nurses

President Pranab Mukherjee on 12 May 2016 conferred the Florence Nightingale Awards to 35 nurses from across the country on the occasion of International Nurses Day at the Rashrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

These awards are given by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals in India.

The day is celebrated worldwide on May 12 every year to commemorate the birth day of Florence Nightingale and to mark the nurses’ contributions towards public health.

About Florence Nightingale awards

• These awards are given to the outstanding nursing personnel employed in Union, State/Union Territories.

• Nurses working in government, voluntary organizations, mission institutions and the private institutions can apply with the due recommendation of concerned State Government.

• The awards carry 50000 rupees cash prize, a certificate, a citation certificate and a Medal.

International Nurses Day

• Nurses Day was first proposed by the Dorothy Sutherland (an officer from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare) in the year 1953.

• It was proclaimed first by then President of US Dwight D. Eisenhower.

• It was first celebrated by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in the year 1965.

• May 12 was declared to be celebrated as the birthday anniversary of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale in January in 1974.

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