Florence Nightingale Awards 2024

Award Ceremony and Recognition

• President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 on September 11, 2024, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• The ceremony honored 15 outstanding nursing professionals for their exceptional service and commitment to duty.

• Union Health Minister J P Nadda attended the event and praised the awardees, calling nurses the "backbone of the healthcare sector."

• The awards, instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, recognize meritorious services rendered by nursing personnel.

• Recipients included professionals from various categories: Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwives, Registered Nurses & Midwives, and Registered Lady Visitors.

• Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, and a medal.

Diversity and Representation in Awardees

• The 2024 awards showcased pan-Indian nursing excellence, with recipients from various states and union territories.

• Awardees represented remote areas like Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, as well as North-Eastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Mizoram.

• The recognition spanned both urban centers and rural areas, highlighting the widespread impact of nursing professionals.

Professional diversity was evident in the selection:

• • Five Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), emphasizing the importance of primary healthcare workers

  • One Lady Health Visitor (LHV), acknowledging supervisory roles in nursing

  • Nine Nurses, including those with advanced degrees and military backgrounds

List of Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 Recipients

Notable awardees included:

• Maj Gen Ignatius Delos Flora from Delhi, representing the armed forces' nursing corps.

• Dr. Tabasum Irshad Handoo from Jammu & Kashmir, showcasing academic achievements in nursing.

• Mr. Radhey Lal Sharma from Rajasthan, one of the few male nurses recognized, is highlighting gender diversity in the profession.

Impact and Future of Nursing in India

• The National Florence Nightingale Awards serve to motivate nursing professionals to strive for excellence in their field.

• These awards raise awareness about the critical role of nurses in healthcare delivery and help set benchmarks for quality nursing care across India.

• The government is actively working to enhance nursing and midwifery education:

  • Establishment of 157 nursing colleges co-located with medical colleges

  • Formation of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission

Final Thoughts

The National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 highlight the vital role of nursing professionals in India's healthcare system.

By honoring dedicated individuals from diverse backgrounds and regions, the awards not only celebrate service excellence but also inspire future generations to pursue nursing with pride and purpose.

These recognitions, coupled with government efforts to strengthen nursing education and infrastructure, reflect a growing commitment to quality healthcare and the empowerment of frontline health workers across the country.