Appreciating the contribution of nurses in tending patients, Union Labour Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the demand for nursing staff has been increasing across the world.
“Nurses are still in shortage in hospitals. They (nurses) have contributed greatly to patients’ care,” the Minister said during the 14th annual Florence Nightingale Award function organised on the occasion of International Nurses Day. The award ceremony was jointly organised by the Anglo Indian Unity Centre and Florence Nightingale Nurses Welfare Association. Mr. Kharge said that more number of people were coming to the nursing profession as opposed to earlier times when a very few people were coming forward.
“Quality nursing college are needed now. This is only possible with a good hospital, and government colleges offer best platform for budding nurses to learn the skills,” he added.
Terming the Anglo-Indian community as the “most beautiful community of India”, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said that though small in number, “their service to society is outstanding.”
Those who received the Florence Nightingale Award 2013 are: Antonia P. (Assistant Nursing Superintendent, St. Johns Hospital), Sherryl McGregor (Cloudnine Hospital), Sulthakumariamma B. (Junior Public Health Nurse, Malappuram in Kerala), Sonu Gurung (B.Sc. 1st Rank holder Padmashree CON), Alphonsa Joseph (Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Manipal Hospital), Justin John (Staff Nurse, Manipal Northside Hospital), Rosina T. Joseph (Nursing Incharge, Bhagwan Mahaver Jain Hospital), Kotresha B.S. (GNM 1st Rang, Government Nursing District Hospital, Bijapur), Jayalakshmi I.V. (Area Nursing Supervisor, M.S. Ramaiah Hospital), I. Clement (Principal, VSS College of Nursing), Jayanthi P.A. (Nursing Supervisor, Panacea Hospital) and R. Jayalakshmi (Retired Nurse).
Among those present included the former legislator and chairperson of Florence Nightingale Award Committee Ivan Nigli, Chief General Manager Ashwini Mehra and Honorary Consul of Republic o Maldives V.G. Joesph.
