National Florence Nightingale Award to Major General Smita Deorani and Brigadier Amita Deorani of the Military Nursing Service

• 23 Jun 2023

Why in News?

On June 22, 2023, the President of India, Mrs. Draupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, awarded the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to Major Gen Smita Devrani, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Military Nursing Service (MNS) and Brigadier MNS, Brigadier Amita Devrani, Headquarters Southern Command at a function in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• President Mrs. Draupadi Murmu has given the National Florence Nightingale Award to a total of 30 nurses for the years 2022 and 2023 at the function.
• The award given to Devrani sisters from Kotdwar district of Uttarakhand is an appropriate honour for their remarkable contribution and service for nearly four decades.
• Apart from these, the President honoured Manju Kaira of Uttarakhand with the National Florence Nightingale Award for the year 2022.
• It is known that the National Florence Nightingale Award, instituted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 1973, is given to nurses and nursing professionals in recognition of their meritorious services rendered to the society.
• Major General Smita Devrani was commissioned at MNS in 1983. Prior to assuming charge as ADG MNS on October 01, 2021, she held various key clinical, staff & administrative positions like Principal Matron, Brigadier MNS, Headquarters (Central Command), Principal Matron, Command Hospital (Southern Command) and Director MNS (Administration).
• Brigadier Amita Deorani was commissioned into service in 1986. She assumed her present assignment of Brigadier MNS, Southern Command on September 01, 2021. Earlier, she has held various important positions like Principal College of Nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune; Army Hospital, Vice Principal of College of Nursing, Research & Referral College of Nursing and Indian Naval Hospital Ship (INHS) Ashwini.