Chandrapur nurse gets Natl Florence Nightingale Award

Chandrapur: Ujwala Mahadev Soyam, a nurse from Chandrapur who has spent over two decades serving in Maharashtra's remote tribal and Naxal-affected areas, was conferred the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday to mark International Nurses Day 2026.Soyam was among 15 nursing professionals from across India selected for the country's highest recognition in nursing services, honouring exceptional dedication and contribution to public healthcare.Currently posted at the Govt General Hospital in Chandrapur, Soyam has served the healthcare sector for 24 years, often working in difficult geographical conditions and underserved communities. Her efforts in preventing female foeticide, promoting healthcare awareness, and providing critical maternal and child healthcare in high-risk and vulnerable regions have earned national acclaim.Her work has been particularly significant in areas affected by insurgency and poor healthcare access, where she played a vital role in improving public health outreach and ensuring medical support for pregnant women and children.The award ceremony was attended by Union health minister JP Nadda, minister of state for health Prataprao Jadhav, and health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava.Presented annually on International Nurses Day, the National Florence Nightingale Award recognises outstanding nursing personnel for their exemplary service. This year's theme, ‘Our Nurses, Our Future', highlighted critical role nurses play in strengthening healthcare systems.The honour includes a medal, citation certificate, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.