Wu Xinjuan, left, director of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital nursing department, accepts a Princess Srinagarindra Award for her work during the 2003 SARS outbreak from Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in Bangkok, on Dec 11, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
BANGKOK – Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Monday presented Princess Srinagarindra Award for the year 2016 and 2017 respectively to a Chinese and a South Korean nursing expert at the Grand Palace.
Princess Sirindhorn said the leadership of the Chinese awardee, 58-year-old Wu Xinjuan and her dedication continuously improve the quality of nursing care in China, which is reflected in her outstanding work when the SARS outbroke in China in 2003, according to a pamphlet released to the media on Monday.
The princess also praised the South Korean awardee, 71-year-old Kim Euisook, for her success
in the advancing nursing profession of South Korea to an international level and for her contribution to the improvement of health of mothers and children living in low socio-economic countries.
Both Wu and Kim are excellent models of nurses and midwives around the world to perform good deeds to benefit the health of humankind, the princess said.
During the SARS epidemic in China in 2003, Wu, director of the Nursing Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, led a team of nurses and took effective procedures to prevent the spread of the infection of SARS and implement efficacious nursing care for some 300 patients and there was no cross-infection among all nurses working with these patients, according to organizers, which they considered as Wu’s most impressive, outstanding achievement.
Wu also shared her experience at that time at a press conference after the awarding ceremony.
“I will devote my whole life to nursing,” Wu said, adding “All nurses and people working in the nursing are a family and I think China and Thailand should have more exchange in terms of nursing to contribute to the development of nursing around the globe.”
Kim, according to organizers, is a distinguished pioneer in nursing education and research in South Korea.
Kim, during the press conference, emphasized the great need of nurses in many developing countries.
Princess Srinagarindra Award Foundation was established in 2000 in commemoration of Princess Srinagarindra Mahidol, mother of revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The foundation, with Princess Sirindhorn being its current president, is under royal patronage.
One Srinagarindra Award is conferred annually upon an individual or a group of registered nurses or midwives who have made a significant contribution within the nursing profession.
