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| Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, M.D. Infectious Disease Scientist and Inventor Credit: TKB Photos |
Washington, DC: The
US-based Liberian infectious diseases scientist, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan,
has been awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Science Research”
in Medicine by the Victor E. Ward Educational Fund at its 16thAnnual Crystal Award Gala which was held under the theme, “The Enabling Power of Science and Technology.”
“I am pleased to inform you that you
have been chosen as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in
Science Research at the Ward Fund’s 16th Annual Crystal Award Gala. The
Ward Educational Fund is pleased to present you with this award because
of your outstanding commitment to science, particularly in the field of
medicine with emphasis on infectious diseases,” said the Award Committee
to Dr. Nyan in its communication from Ms. Vickie Ward who serves as
Chair.
During the Award presentation, the
Committee also recognized the personal struggles, determination, and
perseverance of Dr. Nyan who was expelled from the University of Liberia
Science College by the military government in 1988 for his activism for
democracy and human rights. The committee also noted the scientist’s
concern for humanity by making available his expertise and invention
available to affected regions and poorer populations of Africa and the
world in fighting infectious diseases.
Dr. Nyan is lead inventor of a rapid multiplex diagnostic test that
can detect and identify many infectious pathogens, including HIV,
Hepatitis viruses, Dengue, Ebola, Zika, and other infections. During the
Ebola virus outbreak, his testimony to the U.S. Congress on September 17, 2014 advocated
for a coordinated US-International assistance to the Ebola affected
countries of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, and the
creation of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Victor E. Ward Educational Fund was
established in 2001 in honor of Professor Victor Ward, Chairman of the
Chemistry Department of the T. J. R. Faulkner College of Science and
Technology of the University of Liberia, who was killed during the civil
crisis of 1990. The Ward Fund honors the memory and legacy of this
fallen educator by promoting the study of chemistry at the University of
Liberia as well as science and technology to Liberian Youths,
especially to vulnerable young girls.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Nyan
thanked the Ward Fund for the recognition. He also thanked the
government of Germany which provided him his medical education at the
Humboldt University of Berlin and the United States of America for his
training as a biomedical scientist at the National Institutes of Health
and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. In further
appreciation, the scientist recognized the role and scientific
contribution of the late Professor Ward to the College of Science and
Technology of the University of Liberia, the institution which provided
Dr. Nyan the fundamentals of his career. Dr. Nyan then stressed that he
wants his invention produced to be affordable to the poorer communities
to help humanity fight infectious diseases.
During his remark, the two youngest of
Dr. Nyan’s four daughters spontaneously rushed on stage; one grabbed the
microphone and excitingly thanked the Committee “for the trophy you
gave my daddy; my daddy has two trophies now”, said the youngest (who is
probably 3-4 years old) to the amazement of the Award Committee and
audience. Dr. Nyan recently received several awards, including an Award
in Science from the Liberian Awards in August 2016 and the Humane Order
of African Redemption from the Liberian government when he served as
the 169th Independence Day Orator on July 26, 2016, Liberia’s Independence Day.
Also receiving awards at the 2016 Gala
were Mr. James Milton Weeks, Jr. a Liberian physicist and former student
of Professor Ward’s, for Outstanding Career in Science. U.S.
Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. received an award for Outstanding Public
Service, while the Gbomai Bestman Foundation won an award for
Outstanding Community Service in Maternal-Child Healthcare delivery to
needed communities.
Source: Global News Network
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