Announcement of the Princess Srinagarindra Award Ceremony 2019

On 10 September 2019, the members of the Board of the Princess Srinagarindra Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage held a joint press conference at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, to announce the Princess Srinagarindra Award Ceremony 2019. On this occasion, Associate Professor Dr. Tassana Boontong, Secretary – General of the Princess Srinagarindra Award Foundation, together with Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mrs. Nathaya Beokhaimook, Vice President of VVIP/VIP Travel Management and Planning Department, Thai Airways International PLC, Mr. Kematat Paladesh, Director of Channel 9 MCOT HD and Ms. Patama Lerdwittayasku, Director of communications of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, were also present at the press conference.

This year, the Princess Srinagarindra Award 2019 is awarded to Professor Dr. Serara Segarona Kupe – Mogwe from the Republic of Botswana and to Professor Emeritus Junko Kondo from Japan for their contribution to nursing, midwifery, and healthcare.

Dr. Kupe – Mogwe has demonstrated a leading role in improving the quality of health services by developing professional nursing and midwife in Botswana by establishing the National Health Manpower Training Institute for the first time in the country to train health professionals, mostly nurses. Despite the limited resources, Dr. Kupe – Mogwe coordinated and received support from the World Health Organization. She focused on human resource development to empower the nursing and midwife profession which is the occupation of most women in Botswana. Dr. Kupe – Mogwe founded the Nursing Association of Botswana in 1969, which later changed to the Nursing Union of Botswana. This has led to the empowerment of women and enhanced the status of nursing profession in the country. Throughout her career, Dr. Kupe – Mogwe helped establish various nursing and midwifery organisations in numerous countries around the world.

Professor Emeritus Kondo has demonstrated her leadership and devotion to the development of education in nursing and midwifery in Japan, Egypt, and countries in Africa. By highlighting the importance and necessity of a master's degree in Nursing Science in Japan in order for more efficient public healthcare, she successfully contributed to the establishment of a Master and Doctoral programmes in Nursing Science. She was also the pioneer in modern midwifery and established the Midwife Association of Japan. Her dedication to the profession has led to the improvement in the quality of nursing and midwifery and greatly benefitted the health of mothers, children, and the people at large.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn will preside over the Princess Srinagarindra Award Ceremony 2019 on 7 October 2019, at 16.00 hrs., at the Mulasathan Boroma Asana Hall in the Royal Palace.