President Murmu honours nursing personnel with National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to distinguished nursing personnel at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of International Nurses Day.
Addressing the gathering, the President praised nurses and healthcare professionals for their compassion, dedication and service to the nation. She said nursing personnel exemplify the highest standards of service and play a crucial role in delivering quality healthcare, often under challenging circumstances.
“This occasion is a fitting tribute to the invaluable contribution of nursing personnel and healthcare professionals who serve the nation with compassion and unwavering dedication,” President Murmu said, commending the awardees for upholding the highest standards of patient care through their tireless efforts and devotion to duty.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda was also present at the event.
Instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the National Florence Nightingale Awards recognise the meritorious services rendered by nursing professionals across the country. The awards honour Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives and Lady Health Visitors serving under Central and State Governments, Union Territories and voluntary organisations.
Each award carries a Certificate of Merit, a medal and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh in recognition of exceptional contribution to healthcare services.
Among the awardees honoured this year were Sub Inspector Kulwinder Parhi from Leh, Ujwala Mahadev Soyam from Maharashtra, Lalenthangi Hnamte from Mizoram, Madhu Mala Gurung from Sikkim, Pooka Parmar Rana from Uttarakhand, Gita Karmakar from West Bengal, Poonam Verma from Chandigarh, Deepa Biju from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Sharwan Kumar Dhaka from Delhi, Raksha Rupo Parvatkar from Goa, Kabitha Jagannath from Karnataka, Manjumol V.S. from Kerala, Aysha Beebu K. from Lakshadweep, Dr R. Shankar Shanumugam from Tamil Nadu and Major General Lissamma P.V. from the Indian Army.
International Nurses Day is observed every year on May 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, whose pioneering contributions laid the foundation for modern nursing practices across the world.
Born in 1820 in the Italian city of Florence, after which she was named, Florence Nightingale gained global recognition for her dedicated service during the Crimean War, where she cared for wounded soldiers.
She became popularly known as “The Lady with the Lamp” because she would walk through hospital wards at night to tend to injured soldiers. Through her efforts to improve hygiene, sanitation and patient care, she transformed the treatment of the sick and injured and established nursing as a highly respected and essential profession.
This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” highlights the importance of strengthening support systems for nurses through better working conditions, adequate staffing, leadership opportunities and improved access to education and training.
The event celebrated the commitment and resilience of nursing professionals who continue to serve at the forefront of India’s healthcare system and contribute significantly to patient care and public health.
(DD News)
