COVID-19: Hospital awards health team for saving lives

Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia in Nasarawa state on Thursday presented award of excellence to its team of health workers who battled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posthumous award was also presented to two medical doctors who died in the line of duty.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Hassan Ikrama, of the hospital said those honoured had recorded unprecedented success in handling COVID-19 cases in the hospital.

He said that the COVID-19 isolation centre team worked diligently and tirelessly day and night to fight the spread of the virus and treat those infected.

According to him, 2019 and 2020 were trying times for health workers globally as the virus ravaged the world.

“The management of COVID-19 cases in DASH was superb and we received commendations from  many places including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on how we handled the cases.

“At the peak of the outbreak, patients were being referred from the Federal Capital Territory Abuja to our facility, because of the way we handled the case and we were getting result.

“All these successes were made possible because of the selflessness, dedication and commitment of our staff, so we need to recognise those efforts,” he added.

The CMD also said that two Consultant gynaecologists who died after performing surgery on a suspected Lassa fever patient were given posthumous awards.

The posthumous award was given to Dr Nwaru Victor and Dr Esa Oga who died in 2021 after performing surgery on suspected Lassa fever patient.

Also honoured were other medical personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and others in various departments of the hospital.

The Chairman of the award committee, Dr Agbawu Mek-Agbawu, said the selection of the awardees was based on merit.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, Dr Esther Audu said they never knew their efforts were being recorded and monitored.

She expressed gratitude to the management of the hospital for the recognition and promised to sustain their dedication to the service of humanity.