Florence Nightingale Medal: 2009 recipients

Geneva, 12 May 2009

 To the Central Committees of the National Societies  

Dear Sir or Madam,

In circular No. 618 of 1 September 2008, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) invited the Central Committees of the National Societies to submit nominations for the Florence Nightingale Medal, which is being awarded for the 42nd time today.

This medal – the highest international distinction that can be awarded to a nurse – honours exceptional courage and devotion to caring for the victims of armed conflict or other disasters, or exemplary services and a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.

As was emphasized in Circular No 618, the Florence Nightingale Medal is not intended to crown a career, however meritorious, but rather to reward exceptional commitment, outstanding qualities and exemplary service.

Using the criteria set out above as its guide, the ICRC has thoroughly reviewed the nominations submitted by the National Societies. It is pleased to announce that the persons listed below have been selected. Since titles, qualifications and functions do not always have equivalents in other languages, it seemed preferable to publish them as they were sent to us by the National Societies.

AFGHANISTAN - AFGANISTÁN

 1. Mrs Anisa.    Graduate nurse. Head nurse in Reanimation ward of Public Health Hospital, Jalalabad. Voluntary nursing aide. Active in conflict situations and in the area of public health.

AZERBAÏDJAN – AZERBAIJAN – AZERBAIYÁN

 2. Ms Gultekin Alaskar Gafarova. Nurse. Senior nurse of " Health and Care " department of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society's Secretariat. Voluntary health worker. Active in conflict situations and in the area of public health

 3. Ms Umleyla Tumar Aslanovar. Midwife. Voluntary nurse in the Binagadi district committee of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. Active in the area of public health.

BÉLARUS – BELARUS – BELARÚS

 4. Mrs Nina Bliznyuk . Certified nurse.   Visiting nurse for home care Minsk city organization of the Belarus Red Cross. Active in the area of public health and nursing education.

CHINE – CHINA

 5. Ms Liu Shuyuan. Registered nurse. Head nurse, Department of ICU, Beijing Anzhen Hospital. Active in disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 6. Mrs Zhang Guiying. Nurse. Psychiatric Nursing Officer. Active in the area of public health.

 7. Ms Pan Meier. Graduate nurse. Head nurse of Leprosy Inpatient Department, Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Dermatology, China. Active in the area of public health.

 8. Ms Yang Qiu. Nurse. Xiang town hospital of Dujiangyan City. Active in disaster situations and in the area of public health.

 9. Ms Xian Jishu. Graduate nurse. Head nurse, Department of Neurosurgery of No 1 Hospital Affiliated to the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing. Active in disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 10. Ms Wang Wenzhen . Graduate nurse. Chief Head nurse, Navy General Hospital of PLA. Active in disaster situations.

CORÉE (République de) - KOREA (Republic of) – COREA DEL SUR (de la República de)

 11. Dr Choi Young-Hee Registered   nurse. Professor Emeritus. Active in the areas of public health and nursing education.

DANEMARK – DENMARK - DINAMARCA

 12. Mrs Lone Gravgaard  .    Nurse. Primary health care nurse, municipality of Copenhagen. Active in conflict situations.

 13. Mrs Birgitte Wandschneider.    Registered   nurse. Charge nurse, Refuge at Kirkens Korshaer, Copenhagen. Active in the area of public health.

 14. Mr Jørgen Venø . Regi stered nurse. Operating Theater, Svendborg Hospital. Active in conflict situations.

ESPAGNE – SPAIN – ESPAÑA

 15. Sra Juana María Hernandez Conesa . Enfermera diplomada. Profesora titular de Universidad. Directora de la Escuela de enfermería de Cartagena adscrita a la Universidad de Murcia. Activa en los ámbitos de la salud pública y de la formación para los cuidados de enfermería.

ETATS-UNIS D'AMÉRIQUE – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – ESTADOS UNIDOS

 16. Ms Meredith Buck  . Registered nurse. Manager of Disaster Health Services with the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Active in disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 17. Mrs Diana Whaley . Registered nurse. American Red Cross Disaster Health Services Manager of the Knoxville Area Chapter. Active in disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 18. Dr Susan Beth Hassmiller . Graduate nurse. Senior Advisor for Nursing, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Member of the Board of Directors of the Central New Jersey American Red Cross. Active in disaster situations.

JAPON – JAPAN – JAPÓN

 19. Mrs Tokiko Saita. Graduate nurse. Lecturer, Sendai Municipal School of Nursing. Active in conflict situations and in the area of nursing education.

MONGOLIE – MONGOLIA

 20. Mrs Oyunchimeg Dashzeveg . Nurse. Head of voluntee r workers team, Mongolian Red Cross Society, Bayangol district branch. Active in disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

NORVEGE – NORWAY – NORUEGA

 21. Ms Toril Parelius . Certified nurse. Human Resources Coordinator at the Norwegian Red Cross. Active in conflict situations.

NOUVELLE-ZÉLANDE – NEW ZEALAND – NUEVA ZELANDA

 22. Ms Joyce Hood. Registered nurse. Charge nurse at Manukau Accident and Medical. Active in conflict situations. 

PAYS BAS – NETHERLANDS (the) - PAĺSES BAJOS

 23. Mrs Raquel Marieta Wanada-Luydens . Volunteer. Chief Commander of the volunteer corps of the Overseas Branch Aruba of the Netherlands Red Cross. Active in disaster situations and in the area of public health.

SLOVÉNIE – SLOVENIA – ESLOVENIA

 24. Mrs Jerica Kašca. Nurse. Vice-President of the Slovenian Red Cross local branch Idrija. Active in the area of public health.

THAÏLANDE (Royaume de) - THAILAND (Kingdom of) - TAILANDIA

 25. Ms Anong Taweesap. Nurse and   midwife. Deputy Director, First Aid and Health Care Training Center, The Thai Red Cross Society. Active in conflict and disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 26. Ms Piengjai Guntape. Registered nurse and midwife. Head of Relief Supply Unit, Relief Division, Relief and Commun ity Health Bureau, The Thai Red Cross Society. Active in conflict and disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 27. Ms Krongchit Chomsamut. Graduate nurse and midwife . Head of Administrative section, Thai Red Cross Eye Bank, The Thai Red Cross Society. Active in conflict situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

 28. Ms Sumol Kasornwanitwatana . Nurse and midwife. Director of Nursing Services, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Society. Active in conflict and disaster situations and in the areas of public health and nursing education.

The forthcoming round brings the total number of medals awarded to 1,337.

The medals and diplomas, accompanied in each case by a photogravure portrait of Florence Nightingale, will be dispatched to the Central Committees concerned as soon as possible. The ICRC would appreciate an acknowledgement of receipt.

The ICRC would also be grateful if the medals could be presented in the course of the present year and if the Central Committees could ensure that the presentation ceremony has a formal character, in keeping with the founders'wishes.

The ICRC asks the Central Committees to convey its warmest congratulations to the recipients of the Florence Nightingale Medal.

Yours sincerely,

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS

 Dr. Jakob Kellenberger  

 President