Bahrain has made a new global achievement by winning two major awards at the 2014 United Nations Public Service Forum and Award ceremony held in South Korea.

It is the only Arab country & one of four worldwide to win more than one global United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) award.

This year’s UNPSA witnessed tough competition with 750 projects from 85 countries vying for 19 awards, said the organisers.

The National Contact Centre (NCC), under the management of Silah Gulf, topped the list by winning first place amongst the Western Asia region within the category ‘Promoting Whole-of-Government Approaches in the Information Age’ besides the National Health Information System (I-SEHA) which won second place amongst the Western Asia region within the category ‘Improving the Delivery of Public Services’.

The center is a channel that allows the government of Bahrain to enhance the services offered to citizens, residents, visitors, and businesses through fast delivery of government services. The NCC offers its integrated services – for both public and private sector, locally and regionally – via an easy-to-remember number within 24/7.

Bahrain’s delegation was chaired by the eGovernment Authority (eGA) CEO Mohamed Ali Al-Qaed who received the award on behalf of NCC, representing the eGovernment Authority.

The head of ministry’s delegation, Health Ministry Training and Planning Assistant Undersecretary Dr Hala Ibrahim Al-Mehza received the award on behalf of Health Ministry at the ceremony held at the Korea International Exhibition Center today (June 26).

Hongbo Wu UN-Desa Under-Secretary-General visited Bahrain’s stand at the winning projects exhibition, accompanying the forum; where he attended AlQaed’s presentation about the Kingdom’s experience in public service and communication.

Commenting on the award, Ali Al-Qaed, said: "The eGA is proud of such achievement made by Bahrain in the eGovernment and public service arena in compliance with the best international practices and certainly due to the unlimited support of the country’s leadership of the eGovernment program - under the supervision and directions of Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology."

“Such awards boosts confidence in the performance of the public entities and enhances the quality of services that are provided in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030,” he added.

According to him, Bahrain is the only Arab country to win two awards this year, beside Thailand and South Korea, following Brazil which took three awards. "The rest of the 10 countries won only one award,” he added.

Ali Al-Qaed stressed that Bahrain's experience in hosting the United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards in 2013 had strengthened the Kingdom’s presence, particularly that it was the fourth country and the first in the Middle East to hold and organize this forum outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, since its establishment 10 years back.

Organizing this event last year raised our ambitions and placed us with the responsibility to continue to lead.

Only three West-Asian countries have won the UN Public Service Award, namely Bahrain, Oman and Turkey.

Dr Al-Mehza said the Ministry of Health and Bahrain have strived hard to achieve this honour while developing the provision of public services; particularly primary healthcare for citizens and residents.

"As an outcome, the Kingdom has gained international recognition from the UN and this reflects its given attention to the public services. This was possible mainly because of the continuous support of Shaikh Mohammed in helping us to develop the health services in the Kingdom including I-SEHA," she added.-TradeArabia News Service