John Alvheim
Encyclopedia
John Ingolf Alvheim was a Norwegian
politician for the Progress Party
. He was a nurse anesthetist
by profession, and served as aid worker
in several developing countries during the 1970s. Alvheim was highly respected, also by his political opponents, for his vigorous fight for society's disadvantaged.
, Hordaland
to fisherman
and farmer
Joakim Knutsen Alvheim (1893–1958) and housewife Ingeborg Larsen (1895–1972). From 1954 to 1956 he worked in the Norwegian Navy as a Medical Quartermaster, and finished his education as a nurse anesthetist
. After working some years in Norway at Askim sykehus, he from 1958 to 1961 worked as head nurse at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
, and later returned to work in Norway at Notodden sykehus. Since then he did several missions as aid worker, for the Norwegian Church Aid
in Bangladesh
in 1972 and Ethiopia
in 1974, and for the Red Cross in Lebanon
in 1976.
He also devoted much of his life to help less fortunate kids in developing countries, even building an orphanage for children in Bangladesh
in 1979. He was married in 1980 to nurse Aune-Liisa Kankaanpää (born 29 December 1944).
Alvheim co-authored the autobiography
Fra småting til Storting with Maj-Lis Stordal in 1990.
for the party in 1967 and was a deputy Member of Parliament for the party from 1973 to 1977. During the 1980s he however changed to the Progress Party
, and in 1989 was elected into the Norwegian parliament from Telemark
. He was a member of the Health Committee from 1989 to 2005, the last eight years as its leader.
To his honor, the "Honorary Award of John I. Alvheim" (John I. Alvheims ærespris) has since 2005 been awarded annually by the Progress Party to someone who has made a special effort for the weak in society. Alvheim was present to give the first award himself at the Progress Party national convention in 21 May 2005, but died in December later the same year.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
politician for the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
. He was a nurse anesthetist
Nurse anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist is a nurse who specializes in the administration of anesthesia.In the United States, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is an advanced practice registered nurse who has acquired graduate-level education and board certification in anesthesia...
by profession, and served as aid worker
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
in several developing countries during the 1970s. Alvheim was highly respected, also by his political opponents, for his vigorous fight for society's disadvantaged.
Personal life
Alvheim was born in ØygardenØygarden
Øygarden is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Midhordland. The administrative centre is Rong.Øygarden was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1964 after the merger of Hjelme and parts of Herdla....
, Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
to fisherman
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
and farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
Joakim Knutsen Alvheim (1893–1958) and housewife Ingeborg Larsen (1895–1972). From 1954 to 1956 he worked in the Norwegian Navy as a Medical Quartermaster, and finished his education as a nurse anesthetist
Nurse anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist is a nurse who specializes in the administration of anesthesia.In the United States, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is an advanced practice registered nurse who has acquired graduate-level education and board certification in anesthesia...
. After working some years in Norway at Askim sykehus, he from 1958 to 1961 worked as head nurse at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,...
, and later returned to work in Norway at Notodden sykehus. Since then he did several missions as aid worker, for the Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid , "Kirkens Nødhjelp" in Norwegian, is an independent humanitarian and ecumenical organisation with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The organisation also has offices in 65 countries worldwide and receives funding from the Norwegian Protestant church, their institutions and...
in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1972 and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
in 1974, and for the Red Cross in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1976.
He also devoted much of his life to help less fortunate kids in developing countries, even building an orphanage for children in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1979. He was married in 1980 to nurse Aune-Liisa Kankaanpää (born 29 December 1944).
Alvheim co-authored the autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
Fra småting til Storting with Maj-Lis Stordal in 1990.
Political career
Alvheim started his political career for the Christian Democratic Party. He was elected to a local office in NotoddenNotodden
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Øst-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden....
for the party in 1967 and was a deputy Member of Parliament for the party from 1973 to 1977. During the 1980s he however changed to the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
, and in 1989 was elected into the Norwegian parliament from Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
. He was a member of the Health Committee from 1989 to 2005, the last eight years as its leader.
To his honor, the "Honorary Award of John I. Alvheim" (John I. Alvheims ærespris) has since 2005 been awarded annually by the Progress Party to someone who has made a special effort for the weak in society. Alvheim was present to give the first award himself at the Progress Party national convention in 21 May 2005, but died in December later the same year.