Indian-Origin Nurse Conferred With President's Award In Singapore

A 59-year-old Indian-origin nurse in Singapore, has been conferred with the prestigious President's Award for Nurses for serving on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kala Narayanasamy, who is the Deputy Director of Nursing at Woodlands Health Campus, has been conferred with this award for utilising the infection control practices that she had learned during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, in the current pandemic.

Kala Narayanasamy was among the five nurses who received this award. Each recipient was awarded a trophy, a certificate with the signature of President Halimah Yacob and SGD 10,000 (USD 7,228). Apart fro Narayanaswamy, the award was also given to veteran nurses Tay Yee Kian, Patricia Yong Yueh Li, Alice Foong Sin and Chin Soh Mun. Seventy-seven nurses have received the award since its inception in 2000.

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Kala retired a decade ago but, ended up returning to the profession which she had joined in 1982. "We come from a generation where we often stay in the same job throughout the years and, as a result, we grow roots in our career," Kala told the Straits Times.

What You Should Know

• A 59-year-old Indian-origin nurse in Singapore, Kala Narayanasamy, has been conferred with the prestigious President's Award for Nurses.
• Narayanasamy, who is the Deputy Director of Nursing at Woodlands Health Campus, was felicitated for her work during the pandemic.
• Kala Narayanasamy has recieved a trophy, a certificate with the signature of President Halimah Yacob and SGD 10,000 (USD 7,228).
• Kala retired a decade ago ended up returning to her profession following the coronavirus outbreak.

An Illustrious Career

Kala’s first stint after retirement was in 2011 when she led the nursing team at Ren Ci Nursing Home. She initiated a project to improve oral hygiene among elderly patients. After that, Kala took the position of a nurse educator at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 2012, where she groomed and mentored younger nurses.

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Kala has worked for the modernisation of nursing in Singapore. Her past projects also include the implementation of a self-checkout inventory management vending machine to track the utilisation of items. She was also involved in the introduction of a streamlined wound assessment process which would provide accurate measurements of a wound.

The President's Award for Nurses in Singapore recognises the efforts of nurses who have shown sustained outstanding performance and contributions to patient care delivery, education, research and administration.

Picture Credit: New Indian Express

Ria Chakraborty is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.

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