Today, the
government of Japan announced that the seventh Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) is going to be held from 28th
to 30th August 2019 in Yokohama. Taking the opportunity of
the conference, where African heads of state and government will gather
at the same place, the awards ceremony of the third Hideyo Noguchi
Africa Prize will also be held.
Amid
Africa’s emergence as the biggest frontier of the 21st century, Japan,
as a host nation of TICAD 7, will proactively support Africa’s own
efforts for their development through collaboration between Japan's
public and private sectors.
The “Nairobi
Declaration,” adopted by the last TICADⅥ
in 2016, underscored the idea of “Promoting
resilient health systems for quality of life” as one of its priority
areas. It’s because Africa has most acutely suffered from serious
infectious and other diseases, which are major challenges to overcome
for Africa's development.
In this
context, the government of Japan established the Hideyo Noguchi Africa
Prize in 2006 as a symbol of cooperation between African countries and
Japan in the field of health. The name of the Prize was taken in memory
of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928), whose belief in medical advancement
and self-sacrificing activities in Africa remains a beacon of
inspiration to all. The Prize carries forward his ideals and aspirations
for advancing the global fight against infectious and other diseases
that prevail in Africa. The Prize aims to honor individuals with
outstanding achievements in the categories of medical research or
medical services to improve public health in Africa and combat
infectious and other diseases in Africa, thus contributing to the health
and welfare of the African people and all humankind. Its awards ceremony
is held every six years, coinciding with TICAD held in Japan. The Prize
consists of a citation, a medal, and 100 million yen (≒one
million US dollars) for each laureate.
The 1st
Prizes in 2008 were conferred on Dr. Brian Greenwood, Professor of
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, for his bold and
innovative work on Malaria (Medical Research category) and Dr. Miriam K.
Were, Chairperson of the National AIDS Control Council of Kenya (at time
of award), for her efforts to advance the health and welfare of the
people of Africa (Medical Services category). The 2nd Prizes in 2013
were on Dr. Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine, for his pivotal research on diseases endemic to much
of the African continent (Medical Research category) and Dr. Alex G.
Coutinho, Executive Director of Infectious Disease Institute of Makerere
University (at time of award), for his pioneering efforts to expand
access to life-sparing medicine for people infected with HIV (Medical
Services category).
The
honorariums conferred in their Prizes were used to promote various
medical activities to save people from suffering diseases in Africa,
including a scholarship to foster young African doctors and medical
services in local communities.
The
nomination invitation for the 3rd Prize has now been publicly launched,
and its deadline of 8th August 2018 is rapidly approaching.
The more
nominations we receive, the more excellent candidates will appear for
the 3rd Prize. A set of processes from the nomination invitation to the
awards ceremony of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize is expected to
further encourage activities of medical research and medical services to
fight infectious and other diseases afflicting people in Africa.
Information
channel
TICAD７：The
First Africa Division of African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Japan
Tel: +81-3-5501-8316
URL:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/afr/af2/page3e_000453.html
Hideyo
Noguchi Africa Prize: The Office of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize,
Cabinet Office, Japan
Tel:+81-3-5501-1774
URL:
http://www.cao.go.jp/noguchisho/english/info/nomination3_news.html
Hideyo
Noguchi Africa Prize Newsletter, No. 14, March 2018
URL:
Hideyo Noguchi
Africa Prize Newsletter No. 14, March 2018
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