Diri dedicates COVID-19 response award to committee

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has dedicated distinguished COVID-19 Response Champion Award to the state’s COVID-19 committee in appreciation of its hard work and sacrifice in fighting against the scourge.

The award was conferred on the governor in Abuja by the National Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (NAMLS) in recognition of his administration’s efforts in mitigating the spread of the pandemic in the state.

Mr Daniel Alabrah, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, disclosed this to news men in a statement on Wednesday.

It said that Diri stated this during the courtesy visit of the NAMLS executive led by its president, Prof. James Damen, to Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.

He quoted the governor expressing his gratitude to the association for the honour and for recognising his administration’s developmental strides in the health sector.

Recalling the period of the outbreak of the pandemic, Diri, described it as an “excruciating season in Bayelsa when the committee against all odds ensured the enforcement of all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.”

Diri welcomed the request for Bayelsa to host the association’s annual conference, noting that it would afford participants opportunity to savour hospitality of Bayelsa people, as well as the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

In his remarks, the NAMLS president, Damen, said medical laboratory scientists played a pivotal role in effective health delivery.

He stated that the association conferred the Distinguished COVID-19 Response Champion Award on Sen. Diri having been adjudged the best performing governor in the South-South.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, received the plaque on behalf of the state’s COVID-19 committee.