BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Five Chinese nurses who made great contributions to China's medical cause were awarded Florence Nightingale medals here Tuesday by Chinese President Hu Jintao at a ceremony of the 40th Florence Nightingale Medal.

　　The nurses included Liu Zhenhua , a nurse of leprosy for 28 years at a dermatosis hospital in east China's Shandong Province, Chen Zheng, who has been fighting infectious diseases at Beijing'sDitan Hospital for 40 years, as well as Feng Yujuan from Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Wan Qi from the General Hospital of the Tibetan Military Area Command, and Wang Yali from underdeveloped Dingxi City of northwest China's Gansu Province.

　　The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has done great humanitarian work, especially in fighting SARS and rescuing tsunami-hit countries. It has been praised by the society and gained a good international reputation, said Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi at the ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People.

　　She hoped the RCSC would play a bigger role as an assistant to the government and make a greater contribution to the establishment of a harmonious Socialist society and to the peace and progress of mankind.

　　Wu also noted that the committees of the Communist Party of China and governments at all levels should continue caring for andsupporting the RCSC in a bid to push forward the Red Cross cause in China.

　　RCSC President Peng Peiyun said she hoped that all Chinese nurses and Red Cross workers would follow the examples of the fiveawardees, and further carry forward the spirit of the Red Cross and improve their professional standard and service.

　　Florence Nightingale, a nurse in the United Kingdom during the Crimean War from 1854 to 1856, was regarded as the pioneer of the modern nursing. The Nightingale Award,the top honor in international nursing, was established by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1912 and is presented every two years. The Chinese Red Cross Society began to recommend candidates for the award in 1983 and since that time 43 Chinese nurses have been recognized with it.

　　Chinese President Hu Jintao is the Honorary President of the RCSC. Enditem