Aizawl, May 12: Mizoram health worker Pi Lalenthangi Hnamte has been honoured with the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award, India’s highest recognition for nursing professionals, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to healthcare services and community welfare. The award was presented by Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of International Nurses Day during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
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| President Droupadi Murmu presents the National Florence Nightingale Award to Mizoram health worker Lalenthangi Hnamte during the International Nurses Day award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. (Image: X/rashtrapatibhvn) |
The National Florence Nightingale Award is conferred annually by the Government of India to acknowledge exemplary service rendered by nurses and nursing professionals across the country. The award carries a certificate of merit, a medal, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, and is regarded as the highest honour in the nursing profession in India.
Pi Lalenthangi Hnamte, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), is currently posted at the Tuichawng Ayush Health and Wellness Centre in Mizoram. Over the course of her career, she has earned a reputation for dedication, compassion, and commitment to serving communities, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas.
She began her career in the health sector in 1999 and has since worked in several health sub-centres across Lunglei district. Throughout her years of service, she has been actively involved in maternal and child healthcare, immunisation programmes, emergency medical assistance, and public health outreach initiatives.
Health officials noted that much of her work has been carried out in difficult terrain where transportation and communication facilities are often limited. Despite these challenges, she consistently travelled long distances, sometimes on foot and by boat, to reach isolated villages and ensure that essential healthcare services were delivered to residents.
Apart from providing direct medical care, Lalenthangi has also played an important role in promoting preventive healthcare. She has conducted awareness programmes in schools and villages on topics such as hygiene, nutrition, disease prevention, immunisation, and maternal health. Her efforts have helped improve public awareness and encouraged greater participation in health initiatives in rural communities.
Colleagues and health department officials described her as a dedicated healthcare worker who has shown exceptional commitment to serving people regardless of the challenges involved. They noted that her work reflects the values of compassion, service, and professionalism that the National Florence Nightingale Award seeks to recognise.
The recognition is considered a proud achievement not only for Lalenthangi but also for the healthcare community in Mizoram. Her award highlights the important contribution made by frontline health workers in ensuring healthcare access in geographically challenging regions.
With this honour, Pi Lalenthangi Hnamte becomes one of 17 nursing professionals from Mizoram to receive the prestigious Florence Nightingale Award since its inception. The achievement further underscores the significant role played by nurses and healthcare workers from the state in strengthening public health services.
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Health officials and community leaders across Mizoram have congratulated Lalenthangi on the national recognition, describing it as a well-deserved tribute to more than two decades of dedicated service. They expressed hope that her achievement would inspire younger healthcare professionals to serve with the same commitment and dedication.
The award ceremony served as a reminder of the vital role nurses play in the healthcare system, particularly in remote and rural areas where they often serve as the first point of contact for medical care. Lalenthangi’s recognition stands as a testament to the impact that dedicated frontline healthcare workers can have on the lives of communities across the country.
