The Dr Asma Islam Memorial Award was presented to an exceptional employee of icddr,b Hospital Sunday.

This award, presented annually since 2009, celebrates the dedication and hard work of employees at icddr,b and honours the memory of the late Dr Asma Islam, a dedicated and passionate public health professional who served the icddr,b for nearly two decades since the Seventies. One of her most notable contributions was her work on oral rehydration saline (ORS) – a life-saving formula that has helped over 70 million people globally.

She was an advocate for improving public health, tackling various issues from Vitamin A deficiency to other pressing concerns.

This award honours the memory of Asma's dedication and passion for improving lives through her work in public health and is sponsored by her brother Dr Moinuddin Ahmed.

This year's award criteria included patient care, behaviour and attitude towards patients and colleagues, equipment handling skills, and performance during diarrhoea outbreaks or periods of high patient load.

The recipient was awarded a gold medal. Md Moniruzzaman, senior staff nurse, received the award this year for his performance in 2022.

Additionally, seven other hospital staff were also presented with crests for their performance. Momtaz Begum, nursing officer, Cathrine Costa, nursing officer, Maharab Hossain, senior staff nurse, Arjun Das Ratul, fellow nurse, Dr Mehreen Chowdhury, clinical fellow, Dr Khalid Hasan, clinical fellow, received crests for their services. And Dr Pramita Guha, clinical fellow, received a crest for her academic achievement.

At the event, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, said: "The Dr Asma Islam Memorial Award serves as a fitting tribute to the legacy of our beloved colleague Dr Asma Islam and her unwavering commitment to patient care."

"We are proud to honour and reward those who excelled through their hard work and dedication in the same vein."

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