SHIMLA 11th May, 2012:Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, gave a clarion call to the nursing professionals to take inspiration from the life and service of Lady with the Lamp, Ms. Florence Nightingale, and dedicate themselves towards the service of suffering humanity. He was addressing the State Level Function of Himachal Pradesh Chapter of Trained Nurses Association of India on International Nurses Day observed all over the world on the birth day of Ms. Florence Nightingale, at historic Gaiety Theatre, here today.
Chief Minister said that nursing was a pious profession and it had attained an honourable status due to the dedicated services rendered to injured soldiers during war by Ms. Florence Nightingale, who had served them in the darkness by carrying a candle in her hand. He said that International Nursing Day was an occasion to remind professionals of their duty towards the suffering humanity and also carry introspection whether they had been carrying forward the legacy inherited from the Lady of the Lamp. He said that it was the appropriate time to renew the pledge to re-dedicate services towards the suffering humanity. He said that Himachal Pradesh had best health indicators in the country and credit goes to every health professionals who had been rendering yeoman service despite geographical and functional constraints. He said that successful implementation of various schemes such as Atal Swasthya Sewa, Matri Sewa Yojna and Beti Hai Anmol, were some of the major schemes State had envisioned to emerge leader in health sector in the country.
Prof. Dhumal said that serving suffering humanity had been equated with serving the God. He said that health institutions were like temples where people of all faiths, colour, creed and socio-economic background visit. He said that each one of such suffering human needed to be treated with patience and dedication towards the profession. He said that every individual coming to hospital surrender himself before the doctors and para-medical staff having full faith in their professional competence and of early recovery from the ailment. He said that the nurses had been the vital link between the doctor and patient and needed to discharge their duty carefully and professionally. He said that the State had successfully launched Child Mother Mobile Tracking Programme to monitor the health of mother and child after one month of pregnancy which was not only ensuring medical care but also checking female foeticide. He said that imbalanced sex ratio was dangerous for the society and every individual needed to contribute towards checking the female foeticide.
Chief Minister congratulated the Nurses Association on International Nursing Day. He honoured nurses for their exemplary services.
Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA said that Himachal Pradesh had emerged a role model in health sector in the country due to the combined efforts of every health worker. He said that the health network had been strengthened and services extended to every village. He said that the cadre strength of nurses which was only 600 had been increased three-fold to 1800 by the BJP Government during current regime. He said that all trained nurses had been gainfully employed and their honorarium increased substantially.
Smt. Jyoti Walia, President Himachal Chapter, Trained Nurses Association of India, welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for protecting the interests of nursing professionals by providing them promotional and financial benefits. She thanked Chief Minister for enhancing the honorarium of Rogi Kalyan Samiti nurses from Rs. 7500 to Rs. 13,500 and regularizing contractual nurses on completing eight years of service. She also thanked him for providing ample promotional avenues to the cadre during his four year present regime. She also read out the ‘Samman Patra’ in honour of the Chief Minister.
Smt. Krishna Chauhan, Principal, Sister Nivedita College of Nursing, read out the biography of Lady with the Lamp Ms. Florence Nightingale and said that the world was celebrating her 192 birthday.
Smt. Urmil Guleria, General Secretary, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
A variety cultural programme was also presented by nursing students to mark the celebration.
Dr. Jaishree Sharma, Director of Medical Education, Shri Ramesh Sood, President, Shimla Beopar Mandal, Shri Rajesh Sharda, President, Shimla BJP Mandal, Shri Sonal Agnihotri, Superintendent of Police, Dr. N.K.Lath, Additional District Magistrate,other dignitaries and senior officers of the state were present on the occasion.
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