NEW DELHI, June 22: Reliance Pyrngap of East Jaintia Hills on Thursday received the National Florence Nightingale Award for 2022 and 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday.
The award recognises the meritorious and dedicated services of nursing professionals to society.
Pyrngap has more than 35 years of service as an ANM and LHV. She has served the communities of Saipung Primary Health Centre and is currently posted at Sutnga Community Health Centre in East Jaintia Hills district’s Khliehriat.
The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973 to recognise the contributions of nurses and nursing professionals.
“Pyrngap is efficient in her job and goes beyond her call of duty to serve her community. Her leadership, hard work, initiative, and empathy are commendable,” her citation said, adding that she saved the lives of many women during complicated childbirth.
“She has updated herself by attending various CNE programmes at the national, state and district levels. Her service to the community is highly appreciated by the public and district authorities,” the citation said.
“I am elated and deeply grateful to be given this recognition for my hard work and I try to give a hundred per cent from the beginning till the end of the year. Obviously, it is impossible to give a hundred per cent but that does not stop me from working as hard as possible, which I feel resulted in this award,” Pyrngap told PIB Shillong.
“I want to tell my colleagues to continue giving their best in their work and that they too will be recognised for this very important service that we provide to society,” she added.
Expressing her gratitude to the central and the state governments for selecting her for the honour, she said: “This is the government’s recognition of my hard work.”
Pyrngap is among six women from the Northeast to receive the award in the nurse, ANM (auxiliary nursing midwifery), and LHV (lady health visitor) categories. Two each are from Assam and Manipur and one each is from Meghalaya and Mizoram.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, while congratulating Pyrngap on her feat, said, “I extend our heartfelt appreciation and warmest congratulations to Ms. Reliance Pyrngap, Lady Health Visitor from Sutnga CHC, East Jaintia Hills, for receiving the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award. This well-deserved recognition highlights her exceptional contributions as a nursing professional and symbolises the dedication and hardwork she has exhibited in rendering healthcare services to the people.”
“We honor Ms. Reliance Pyrngap and all the health providers who selflessly serve society, improving lives and making a lasting impact. Her commitment and compassion inspire us all, and the government expresses its sincere gratitude for her invaluable contributions to the field of healthcare,” she added.
