Qazigund man gets national Florence Nightingale award 2021

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: A retied SKIMS employee hails from south Kashmir’s Qazigund area gets national Florence Nightingale award on Monday.

For more than four decades, Ahmadullah wani, a retired nursing officer at SKIMS Soura, has dedicated his life to the welfare of patients, especially with infection control team, with two years of the pandemic giving his work a new direction.

In recognition of his services, Ahamdullah was on Monday awarded the National Florence Nightingale Award 2021 by President Droupadi Murmu.

Talking to Arising state, Ahmadullah said that this is such a proud moment for him. “What else can I ask for?This is the most special day of my life, as my work has been recognized and rewarded. I had never thought that one day, I would meet  President of the country, my all  dreams have come true”,he said.

Ahmadullah joined SKIMS Soura in 1981, After joining SKIMS Soura, Ahmadullah was posted in Hospital infection control team for five years, and worked as Nursing supervisor- incharge of hospital infection control team and ,incharge of COVID19 block in SKIMS Srinagar.

Ahmadullah wani has over 20 years of experience as an  incharge of emergency department. Ahmadullah has significantly contributed during snowstorm, earthquake and flood in kashmir.

His tenure has explored new intellectual spaces by working in various key operative areas of patient care like infectious disease unit, Covid19 clinic besides participation in various medical relief camps.

Wani has attended various training programmes and organised many workshops and conferences in SKIMS institute. He has made many presentations in continuing nursing education workshops and conferences.

Wani was an academic counselor for nursing administration certificate students. He is also a member of various NGOS and nursing association.

Wani worked with new challenges in the SKIMS Soura in various departments, he has worked for the longest tenure in SKIMS Soura. Wani describes the time when the Covid infection was at its peak, which was extremely challenging, and required new solutions and swift action . He was the first person in SKIMS Soura who attended first  Covid 19 infected student who had arrived  from china.

Hailing from South Kashmir’s Qazigund area, Wani has been instrumental in various nursing reforms at the SKIMS soura in the last four decades apart from his contribution towards seamless and effective patient care.

The National Florence Nightingale Awards were instituted in the year 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to society.

Meanwhile ,Wani has received several appreciation awards during his service  . Besides,he has received  employee of the year award in 2018 and as best male nursing award in 2020, 2021.

Wani  retired from the service in April 2021 last year.

Wani thanks his family, friends employees for all the support and encouragement and also his seniors as well as the doctors of SKIMS soura, who have had complete faith in his abilities and encouraged him to deliver  his best even in difficult times.