NEW DELHI, May 12: President Pranab Mukherjee today underlined the need for utilising the services of nurses in improving health conditions in rural areas where there are no doctors–beyond their traditional domain of hospitals and dispensaries.
The President who gave away the National Florence Nightingale Awards to nursing personnel on the occasion of the International Nurses Day, said the government had, during 12th Five Year Plan, set the goal of health for all and with the expansion of medical infrastructure and its coverage, there would be an increased demand for nursing staff.
This, he said, could be addressed by augmenting capacities in existing institutions and by opening many more nursing schools.
“Time has now come to effectively utilise their services in Public Health Services beyond their traditional domain of hospitals and dispensaries. The skills of our Nurses can be used to great advantage in improving health services in rural areas where there are no doctors,” he said.
Describing the National Florence Nightingale Awards as a befitting recognition of the extraordinary work done by nurses, the President said nursing had evolved into a modern medical profession with wealth of skills and professional knowledge.
Nurses formed a large and critical part of health workforce and as keen facilitators of the healthcare, they formed the pivot in the Hospital-Doctor-Patient paradigm.
Whether preventive care, home care or hospital care, nurses were an indispensable part of healthcare.
May 12 marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale who more than a century ago, established the first Institution to train nurses.
“Today, in India, we have our own versions of Florence Nightingale. In all our States–in urban and in remote regions–who have earned the well-deserved reputation of being highly disciplined and professional. They have developed nursing into a noble specialisation and have themselves become synonymous with competence and unparalleled commitment. It is no wonder that they
are appreciated–and their services sought all over the world,” the President added.
He said the International Council of Nurses by having chosen the theme ‘Closing the Gap’ had brought focus to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to maternal health, reducing child mortality and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
He expressed confidence that nursing profession would attain greater recognition and they would be empowered with more responsibilities, competencies and better facilities for improving health services.
(UNI)
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