International Nurses Day: Remembering the contributions of life-saving nurses

Florence Nightingale's birth anniversary is celebrated on May 12 as International Nurses Day since 1965 to pay respect to nurses, who make major contribution in the betterment of the society. 

Florence Nightingale is the most famous name when it comes nursing. She is known as the Lady wuth the Lamp. 

She worked for extending health and survival rate. She operated during in the 1890s Crimean War. 

Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American to study and work as a professionally trained nurse in the United States. In 1879, Mahoney was the first African American to graduate from an American school of nursing.

She was not officially a nurse but she was known for providing medical help to poor and downtrodden by setting up hospitals for poor leprosy, HIV-AIDS & tuberculosis patients; ensured access to medical facilities for the poor.

Margaret Sanger fought for the woman’s right to control her own body after she advocated birth control. 

The reason she brought birth control in motion is because her mother died due to the complications that come from eleven pregnancies. Without her influence, in fact, birth control might still be unheard of and illegal.

Mary Jane Seacole was a British-Jamaican business woman and nurse who set up the "British Hotel" behind the lines during the Crimean War. She described this as "a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers", and provided succour for wounded servicemen on the Crimean battlefield.  

She preceded Florence Nightingale but did not get acknowledged because of her African-origin.