It has been an ongoing award used to show appreciation for hardworking people who dedicate their time and effort for the benefit of others and hardly ever themselves.
Yesterday, Delsyia Palmerston Goff, a retired nurse since 1988, who is now a very active member of the Belize Red Cross Society, was honored with the 41st Florence Nightingale award from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Delsyia was very humble in her acceptance of the award, saying “I have Red Cross in my heart. I sleep and when I wake I think of Red Cross, and if an emergency should arise, I will find the strength to go out and still serve. So this honor that I am receiving today was not really one of my goals. My goal was to work for the people in Belize. I never anticipated I would have received this level of award.”
Even the president of the Red Cross in Belize, Karen Diaz, said that she felt proud to know that this is the second time that Belize has received the award, being chosen from among all the Red Cross associations worldwide. The last time we received such an award was exactly ten years ago, in 1997 when Mrs. Audrey Courtenay received the award.
Delsyia’s award was presented by the Governor General of Belize, Sir Colville Young.
Delsyia, who was presented with her award at a graduation for nursing students, one male and 12 females, who had attended a Red Cross home givers care program, has contributed thirty-four years to nursing, from 1954 to April 1988, when she retired.
To the graduates, the proud recipient of the award said: “Congratulations, and you have entered into a beautiful area, homecare nursing. That area of nursing is needed in Belize. We need you and especially when you look at me, I will soon have need for you.”
Among the guest speakers were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Eamon Courtenay; Karen Diaz, and David Gibson, also a president of the Belize Red Cross.
Amandala gives maximum respect to “Lady” Delsyia, a Belizean treasure. Congratulations.