Ana Néri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ana Néri
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A stamp of Ana Néri
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| Born | December 13, 1814 Cachoeira de Paraguaçu, Bahia
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| Died | May 20, 1880 (aged 65) |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Other names | Anna Nery |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Known for | Introduction of modern nursing in Brazil |
| Spouse(s) | Commander Isidoro Antônio Néri (1837-1843) |
| Children | Justiniano, Isidoro Antônio Filho, and Pedro Antônio |
Ana Justina Ferreira Néri (born December 13, 1814 – died May 20, 1880) was a brave Brazilian nurse. She is known as the first nurse in Brazil. Ana Néri volunteered to help injured soldiers during the Paraguayan War, showing great courage and care.
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Life Story of Ana Néri
Ana Néri was born on December 13, 1814, in a village called Cachoeira de Paraguaçu in Bahia, Brazil. Her parents were José Ferreira de Jesus and Luísa Maria das Virgens.
When she was 23, Ana married Isidoro Antônio Néri, a Navy Commander. Because her husband was often away for work, Ana learned to manage their home by herself. She became a widow at age 29. She then raised her three sons, Justiniano, Isidoro, and Pedro Antônio, on her own. Justiniano and Isidoro later became doctors. Pedro Antônio joined the Army as a cadet.
Becoming a Nurse
In 1865, Brazil joined a big conflict called the Paraguayan War. This war involved Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay (together known as the Triple Alliance) fighting against Paraguay. Ana's three sons were called to serve in the war. Her two brothers, Manuel Jerônimo and Joaquim Maurício, also joined the army.
Ana did not want to be far from her family during such a dangerous time. So, she wrote a letter to Manuel Pinho de Sousa Dantas, who was the governor of Bahia. In her letter, she offered to volunteer and take care of the injured soldiers of the Triple Alliance for as long as the war lasted.
Helping Soldiers in War
Later that year, Ana left Bahia for the first time in her life. She joined the Army's health team, which was small and didn't have many supplies. She began working with Vincentian nuns at a hospital in Corrientes. There, she cared for more than 6,000 soldiers who were hurt or sick.
Ana Néri then moved to other places where battles were happening. She helped injured soldiers in Salto, Humaitá, Curupaiti, and Asunción.
Ana was a wealthy woman. She used her own money, which she had inherited from her family, to open a nursing house in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. The Brazilian Army had taken control of the city at that time. She worked tirelessly at this nursing house until the war ended. Sadly, her son Justiniano and a nephew who had volunteered for the war both died in battle.
After the War
When the war ended in 1870, Ana returned to Brazil. She received many honors for her brave work. These included silver and humanitarian campaign medals. The Emperor of Brazil, Pedro II, gave Ana a special lifelong payment. She used this money to provide education for four orphan children she had brought back with her from Paraguay.
Legacy of Ana Néri
Ana Néri passed away on May 20, 1880, in Rio de Janeiro. Her dedication to nursing left a lasting mark on Brazil.
Honors and Tributes
- In 1926, a famous doctor named Carlos Chagas named the first official Brazilian nursing school after her. It was called the Ana Néri School.
- A full-body painting of Ana Néri, created by the artist Victor Meirelles, is proudly displayed at the City Hall in Salvador.
- On December 2, 2009, a special law was passed in Brazil. This law, number 12.105, officially recognized Ana Néri as a hero of Brazil. Her name was added to the Book of the Fatherland Heroes. This book is kept in the Pantheon of the Fatherland and Freedom, a monument in Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
Ana Néri was also shown in a Brazilian TV show. She was played by the actress Cyria Coentro in the 2021 historical telenovela Nos Tempos do Imperador.
