Queen Silvia of Sweden has presented “The Queen Silvia Nursing Award” to nursing students who have contributed innovative ideas that promote the care of the elderly and people with dementia. Last year’s award ceremony was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so this time the Queen awarded scholarships to the prize winners from both 2019 and 2020.
The Queen Silvia Nursing Award was established on the occasion of the Queen’s 70th birthday on 23 December 2013 with the aim of creating the conditions for lasting change in health and care with a focus on the elderly. In addition to the prize money of SEK 50,000, a six-month individually designed internship period is included in the award.
The recipients from 2019 were Agnieszka Napieralska from Poland, Janina Viitasaar from Finland, Sarina Bach from Germany and Maria Larsson from Sweden. The recipients from 2020 were Karolina Adomaviciute from Lithuania, Linda Smit from Germany, Radoslaw Romanek from Poland, Inka Häkkinen from Finland, Lisabet Lindbäck from Sweden and Brooke Tamble from USA.
During the ceremony the Queen gave a speech in which she said: “We are here to recognize the creative ideas of the Queen Silvia Nursing Award scholars. Today, we have with us winners from both 2019 and 2020. I am so happy that you are able to join us! Ladies and Gentlemen, the covid-19 pandemic has taken a great toll on all of our communities. It remains a great challenge, not least in developing countries, and I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank you – our nursing heroes – who have sacrificed so much to keep us all safe. Thank you”.
The Queen continued: “Dear nursing laureates, Our opportunity to live longer than ever is a privilege, made possible by science, knowledge, and information. However, ensuring high-quality elderly and dementia care for all in our ageing communities is going to require even more research, as well as new ideas and innovative solutions such as yours. I extend my warmest appreciation to you and your peers for your outstanding contributions – not just today, but every day that you continue to serve us and your communities”.
