The medal – the highest international distinction for nurses and voluntary nursing aides – honours exceptional courage and devotion to the victims of conflict or other disaster. It also rewards exemplary services and a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health and nursing education.

Ms Gultekin Gafarova was a senior nurse at the Health Care Department of the Azerbaijani Red Crescent. She was also a voluntary public health worker and came to the aid of the victims of conflict. As she passed away recently, the award is posthumous.

Ms Umleyla Aslanova is a midwife and a voluntary nurse in the Binagadi branch of the Azerbaijani Red Crescent. She has long been active in the area of public health.

Ms Gafarova and Ms Aslanova were among 28 persons from 15 countries selected by the ICRC for this 42nd presentation of Florence Nightingale Medals. The award consists of a medal and diploma as well as a photogravure of the portrait of Florence Nightingale.

For the past 80 years, Florence Nightingale Medals have been awarded to qualified nurses and voluntary nursing aides worldwide who are active members or regular helpers of a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society. The medal is issued every two years on the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who was a pioneer of modern nursing. In all, 1,337 medals have so far been awarded, including 10 to Azerbaijani nurses.