Recognition for Ebola volunteer

THE head of laboratory services at NHS Shetland and NHS Orkney, Geoff Day, has been recognised for his selfless services in helping to fight the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, earlier this year.

The biomedical scientist was posted to an operational area in the West African state in April and May where he worked as part of the public health team co-ordinating the testing of blood samples.

He has now been presented with the Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa.

Presenting the medal on behalf of the UK Government, NHS Shetland chairman Ian Kinniburgh said it made him feel proud that in Shetland the call for help was heard by Geoff Day.

“There are times when the need for humanitarian assistance transcends organisational, national and international boundaries and the overwhelming demand on the local skilled workforce places the lives of many people at risk.

“The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was one such occasion when the call for volunteers was issued,” he said.

Day, who had previously worked in humanitarian and disaster relief in the Pacific and South East Asia said volunteering for the mission in West Africa seemed “a perfectly rational response”.

“Whilst the working conditions were somewhat austere, I found it a very rewarding and satisfying experience.

“It certainly never occurred to either myself or any of my colleagues that what we were doing was anything other than a normal response to a problem,” he said.

He added that he felt honoured to be recognised in this way and thanked NHS Shetland and his colleagues in the lab for making it possible for him to volunteer in Sierra Leone.