Dr Helen (right) receiving the award and other prizes from Najib (third left) while Rosmah (second left) and Rosnah (third right) look on.
KOTA KINABALU: Associate Professor Dr Helen Benedict Lasimbang was recently awarded the “Anugerah Kesatria Puteri” for her contribution to the medical field and helping out rural communities by actively getting involved in missions of MERCY Malaysia Sabah.
The 46-year-old woman from Penampang was among 12 recipients of the award as recognition for their respective fields during a one-day event of “Himpunan Wanita Muda Negara 2012” which was held at Tun Razak Hall 1 in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak handed over the award to Dr Helen under the medical category.
The first-time event was jointly organized by Puteri Umno and various non-governmental organizations of young women and youth clubs together with I.D.E.A (Inspiration, Dedication, Expression, Aspiration) Secretariat chaired by National Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin who is also Deputy Health Minister.
The wife of Prime Minister, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor as the patron of the event, graced the auspicious occasion while the prime minister officiated the closing of the event.
Dr Helen, a medical graduate of Malaya University, started her career as a graduate medical officer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1991.
Her deep interest in obstetrician and gynecology fields had encouraged her to continue her studies for her master’s degree at the same university.
Dr Helen is now a medical lecturer and consultant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology under the Medical Faculty at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Eleven other women achievers of the awards in different categories were Captain Norashikin Onn (Career Category), Pandelela Rinong (Sport), Norlina Alawi (Charity), Wan Norhayati Wan Alias (Journalism), Dato’Farshila Emran (Corporate), Fione Tan (Entrepreneurship), Roslinda bt Abd Majid (DJ Lin) (Radio Presenter), Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin (Art) and Jay Menon (TV Personality), Professor Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof (Education), and Haniesah Lai (Indigenous).
The highest award known as Nusa Mahsuri Award inspired by Rosmah, went to Dato’ Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Binti Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’dzam Shah for her excellent achievement and contributions to humanitarian and charity community works, up to international level.
The main objective of the programme was to gather young women irrespective of backgrounds in the country to explore self potential and roles in shaping the development and gaining positive changes as well as enliven patriotic spirit in them.
Over 14,000 young women from various NGOs, higher learning institutions, professional associations and youth clubs, including Puteri Umno from every state attended the event.
Rosnah in her welcoming address said that there is a pool of women achievers in the nation that need a platform and full support to move forward and transform the nation towards achieving the Vision 2020.
She was very pleased to note that 30 per cent of decision makers in the country were women who have given the opportunity to succeed in their respective fields.