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“Two Maharashtra nurses received “National Florence Nightingale Awards” at hands of President of India Ram Nath Kovind at a recent function organised at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on the occasion of International Nurses Day.”
Chhaya Patil from Chandrapur and Asha Gajre from Jalgaon were among 36 awardees felicitated by the President. Patil is a nurse working at the Chandrapur health workers office. She has been in the medical field for the last 29 years. She has worked in tribal areas for 17 years and has worked in urban areas for 10 years.
Patil had been going to vaccinate children in Naxal areas on foot or on a cycle. She has played an instrumental role in encouraging women to deliver children in hospitals. She has also spread awareness on family planning programmes and has vaccinated people through the malaria vaccination programme. She has worked to implement different central government health programmes. She had played a significant role in the prevention of communicable disease in 1991-1992 and also actively participated in 2015-2016 in the state’s vaccination programme.
“Asha Gajre, a nurse from Chopada talukas in Jalgaon, works at the Lasur Primary Health Centre (PHC). She has been in the medical field since the last 33 years. She has served in urban areas for over 28 years and also worked in tribal areas since for 5 years.”
“She has played a significant role in the implementation of leprosy control programs. TB vaccination and has also worked with patients with mental disorders. Through the Lasur Primary Health Centre, she helped administer the MMR vaccine ( a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella) and brought the incidence rate to 0 per cent in that area. She also helped bring the child mortality rate under control.”
“The Florence Nightingale awards are given to the outstanding nursing personnel employed in Central, State/UTs. Nurses working in Government, voluntary organizations, mission institutes and the private institutions (who can apply with the due recommendation of concerned State Government). The awards were instituted by the Government of India in 1973. They are named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and the very icon of selfless care.”
“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 (service), “shushrusha” (patient care) and “ karuna” (compassion).”
“For patients and their families, nurses are the face of healthcare services. He was happy to note that the World Health Organisation has announced 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Mid-wife. Incidentally, 2020 will also mark the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.”
“ I congratulate these 36 nursing professionals for their meritorious services and offer my felicitations to the entire nursing fraternity for their sincere dedication and services to fellow citizens. I also wish to acknowledge the sacrifice of Late Mrs. Lini Puthuserry who is today being honoured posthumously for her unsurpassed dedication while taking care of patients during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala”.
“Our nurses serving in community health centres and hospitals, have played an important role in successful implementation of national health programmes like eradication of polio, malaria and HIV/AIDS. I am happy to note that this year’s awardees have made commendable contribution in these areas. ”
“The Government of India has launched the Ayushman Bharat initiative to provide quality and comprehensive primary health care to people and till now over 64 lakh beneficiaries have been admitted and nearly 20 thousand hospitals have been empanelled. This is a monumental health care programme, in whose success the nursing community shall play a key role.”
“In another program organised by Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Vice President M. Venkiah Naidu conferred national awards for outstanding work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, to 65 individuals and institutes, in 14 categories. The awards were given after screening 850 applications.”
“The recipients from Maharashtra included: Mansi Joshi (Mumbai),(Best sportsperson), Vanita Ayyar (Navi Mumbai) (Best physically challenged employee), Dr Bhavesh Bhatia (Mahabaleshwar) (Role model award) and Rising Flame, Malad, Mumbai”
“On the occasion, the Vice President said that in fact the name of this ‘Day’ should have been the “International Day of Persons with Special Abilities”. We have many of these remarkable men and women with special abilities amidst us who have excelled in a number of fields. Given the right kind of environment and opportunities they can make immense contribution towards nation building.”
“He said that India has one of the highest numbers of people with disabilities globally. According to the Census of India 2011, there are 2.68 crore “Persons with Disabilities” in our country, which constitutes 2.21% of our population. This number could be still higher since many persons, especially those with mental health issues often hide them due to social stigma attached to these ailments.”
