A nurse from Meghalaya, Victorealness Syiemlieh, was among 51 nursing professionals from the country who were presented with the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2021 by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today.
Syiemlieh was honoured for her role in Polio vaccination and also in nursing patients affected by Covid-19 during the pandemic.
The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted in 1973 by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to the society.
With more than three decades of experience as a nurse, Syiemlieh retired as Assistant Director (Nursing) of the Directorate of Health Services.
She first joined the profession in 1984 after completing her studies from the Regional College of Nursing, Guwahati and was appointed as a staff nurse at the Shillong Civil Hospital in 1990 and also served at the Mawkyrwat CHC in 1993.
In 1994, she was promoted as the Public Health Nurse (PHN) of Mawkyrwat CHC and in 2011 as the Assistant Matron at the Civil Hospital, Nongstoiñ. Syiemlieh was also posted as the Nursing Superintendent in 2016 and then went on to become the Assistant Director (Nursing) in 2020 until she retired in May 31, 2021.
Throughout her service, Syiemlieh has had experience in establishment of pulse polio booth, antenatal clinic and functioning of OT at different centres. She was also responsible for management of Covid-19 pandemic by setting up designated wards and corona care centres in the South West Khasi Hills and conducted continuing nursing education for nurses on HIV/AIDS, Polio, Kayakalp programme and disaster management.
Sharing her experience, Syiemlieh said she had travelled the length and breadth of the State and walked on troubled roads to reach out to pregnant women in the remote areas and even conducted successful deliveries to those who don’t have the means to reach to health centres.
“This award is a testimony to the years of hard work and to the people who have benefitted from my service,” she said. She urged future generations to work for the welfare and betterment of the society with selflessness and dedication.
Syiemlieh has not only dedicated her time and energy as a nurse but continues to serving the community as the President Seng Kynthei Shnong Rangthong (SKSR), Secretary of the Village Water Sanitation Committee in Rangthong and member of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in South West Khasi Hills and others.
Recently, the Ranikor block Congress decided to field Syiemlieh to contest the Assembly elections 2023.
