Bangarammal Karunakaran, who served as the head nurse of Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital, Puducherry, was recognised for her service on May 12. She received the National Florence Nightingale Award for the year 2017 from President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi.
In commemoration of the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12 every year. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has institutionalised the National Florence Nightingale Award and nursing personnel from across the country are honoured with the award for delivering outstanding services to the society.
Ms. Bangarammal is one among the 35 nursing personnel from across the country to receive the prestigious award.
Ms. Bangarammal, who retired on March 31, began her career as a nurse when she was 21 years old at the Government Maternity Hospital in 1979. “I always wanted to be a nurse. My mother taught us to serve and support people. This encouraged me to join this service,” she said.
Working relentlessly for 38 years, she has served in government hospitals in Puducherry and Karaikal. “I have assisted in delivering at least 10,000 babies in my service,” she says proudly.
She recently retired as a head nurse from Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital this year. She plans to continue social service by providing counselling for children and adolescents in government schools in rural areas.
“As a nurse, it is important to talk to patients, listen to them and provide care,” she says.
She has attended various training programmes and has a track record of updating herself on different subjects like basic panic healing, HIV/AIDS and ART training for nurses and short term course for nursing personnel.
Ms. Bangarammal has received the Mother Theresa award for her excellent services in the field of nursing along with JCI Pondicherry Elite award for outstanding contribution in social work in the year 2016 and Excellency in Nursing Award at International Nursing Conference. She was also awarded the ‘Best Nurse Award’ at the Women’s Day celebrations at the Bharathidasan College. She was selected for the Puduvai Shakthi Award for the year 2017.
She has received several appreciation letters for her outstanding work.