HT Correspondent
Gangtok, May 16: The chief minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang announced that the Government will constitute an annual award called ‘Chief Minister’s Best Nurse Award’ which will be awarded to the best three nurses in the state every year on the occasion of International Nurses Day (12th May).
The award will be presented from the year 2023 onwards. He announced that the award will comprise a cash prize of Rupees five lakhs, Rupees Three Lakhs and Rupees Two Lakhs to the best three nurses respectively. It was revealed on the occasion of the International Nurses Day celebrated at Gangtok’s STNM Hospital recently where he was present as a chief guest on the occassion in the presence of Health minister Dr. M.K. Sharma, DG-cum-secretary, Health, Dr. Pempa T. Bhutia, Former Nursing superintendent of STNM Hospital Dawa Lamu Targain, senior officers and doctors.
During the programme nurses of different departments of STNM Hospital as well as from District Hospitals were felicitated by the chief guest in honour of their commendable service.
Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang in his address lauded the tireless effort of the nurses of Sikkim especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the subsequent vaccination drive, which has put Sikkim on a high pedestal in the national ranking in terms of health care delivery.
The chief minister reiterated that the present Government has laid highest priority on the health sector both in terms of infrastructural up-gradation and up-scaling of manpower.
Speaking about STNM Hospital, he said, “The state government hospital is now fully equipped to cater to the medical needs of the people of Sikkim and neighbouring regions.” The chief minister also touched upon other initiatives of the Government in the health sector. He spoke about the ‘Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Scheme’ designed to ensure that no person is deprived of medical treatment. Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang also spoke about the women-centric schemes namely Aama, Bahini and Vatsalya announced recently by the Government.
Earlier, chief minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated two high end equipment installed in the Cath-Lab operation theatre of Cardiology Department, STNM Hospital.
