SRINAGAR SEPT 14: Dr Tabasum Irshad Handoo, a nurse at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has been honoured with the prestigious Florence Nightingale Award for her outstanding contributions to the field of nursing. Dr Tabasum, a resident of Buchpora in Srinagar, has dedicated over two decades of service to SKIMS, focusing on promoting natural childbirth and reducing caesarean section rates.
The Florence Nightingale Award, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973, is one of the highest recognitions for nursing professionals in India. Dr Tabasum received the award from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, acknowledging her exemplary service.
Dr Tabasum’s journey in nursing began after completing her diploma from SKIMS. She briefly worked at the institute before moving to Saudi Arabia, where she served for seven years. Upon returning to Kashmir in 1999, she rejoined SKIMS and pursued higher education, obtaining a Post Basic BSc in Nursing and an MSc in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, in 2012. In 2023, she completed her PhD focusing on natural childbirth, a research aimed at reducing caesarean deliveries, which has been published in national and international journals.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr Tabasum has held various roles, including Stoma Nurse, Hospital Infection Control Nurse, and tutor at the College of Nursing. She also made significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, setting up quarantine wards and training National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel in first-aid care during the Delta variant surge in 2021.
Dr Tabasum expressed her gratitude upon receiving the award, stating, “It shows that your work is being recognised.” She also encouraged fellow nurses to continue learning and providing compassionate, evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.
Her dedication extends beyond healthcare. Dr Tabasum has been a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment and girls’ education, delivering talks on these issues through platforms like All India Radio and Doordarshan.
