6 Chinese nurses win Florence Nightingale Medal

Six Chinese nurses were awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal for their outstanding contributions to healthcare.

The Florence Nightingale Medal ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing [Photo: cankaoxiaoxi.com]

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao presented the medals at a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The nurses included Li Xiuhua and Yang Li who both work in Beijing, Yang Hui from north China's Shanxi Province, Yang Huiyun from northwest China's Shannxi Province, Yin Yanling from northeast China's Jilin Province and You Jianping from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

There are 39 nurses from 22 countries won the accolade this year.

The Nightingale Award was established by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1912 and is presented every two years.

Florence Nightingale, a British nurse during the Crimean War from 1854 to 1856, was regarded as the pioneer of the modern nursing.

A total of 79 Chinese nurses have won the award since the Chinese Red Cross Society began to recommend candidates for the award in 1983.