A Bahraini surgeon has been nominated for the prestigious Arab Health Award for Surgery.

Dr Abdul Gaffar Shaikh Ahmed, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Noor Specialist Hospital, has been nominated because of a pioneering surgical method he has developed.

This is the first time a Bahraini has been nominated for this annual award.

"I consider this as an honour for Bahrain. My keyhole surgical technique to remove prolapsed lumbar discs, which I have pioneered since 1998, was the driving force for my nomination," he told the Gulf Daily News.

"The award is given once a year from amongst surgical doctors within the entire Middle East region."

The Arab Health office in Dubai has received hundreds of entries, from which three have been nominated.

The winner will be announced at a gala dinner on Wednesday at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai.

Dr Ahmed had earlier worked as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the BDF Hospital from 1986 to 2005.-TradeArabia News Service