President Ramnath Kovind has said, the success of the Ayushman Bharat health scheme will be determined by the contribution of nursing community. Mr Kovind said, there is considerable increase in the demand for highly- skilled nurses and for this, quality training institutes are required. The President said, to meet the demand, the government has taken several initiatives for further development of pre-service and in-service training, education and up-gradation of  the nursing services. He was speaking after presenting National Florence Nightingale Awards 2019 to outstanding nursing personnel in New Delhi today.<br />''<br />''Mr Kovind said, government has launched Ayushman Bharat initiative with an aim to provide quality and comprehensive health care services to people from all walks of life.<br />''<br />''President gave away 36 awards in three different categories on outstanding nursing personnel with meritorious services from across the country.<br />''<br />''Of the total awards, one was posthumously given to Lini P.N, a Kerala based nurse, who sacrificed her life on duty caring for the first index case of Nipah virus infection in 2017.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;"><br />''National Florence Nightingale awards were instituted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973 as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by nurses to the society. Nearly 482 nurses have been decorated with Florence Nightingale awards so far.</span><br />