The first Mother Teresa International Humanitarian Award will be presented to Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS, and Ambassador Dr. Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, by Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, the immediate past President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, at a function to be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 in New Delhi.

The function will be jointly organized by UNAIDS and CBCI Health Commission .

The “Blessed Mother Teresa International Humanitarian award” instituted by the Health Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the same humanitarian concerns exemplified by Mother Teresa, said the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Fr Alex Vadakumthala.

Speaking about the award, Archbishop Bernard Moras, the Chairman of the CBCI Health Commission said, “Both Dr. Piot and Dr. Dybul are pioneers who continue to lead the global fight against the spread of HIV and are leaders who work with passion in making a difference in the lives of people living with HIV especially in developing countries. In this regard, they are leaders, who, like Mother Teresa, try to make a difference to humanity.”

Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS since its creation in 1995 and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, comes from a distinguished academic and scientific career focusing on AIDS and women's health in the developing world. Under his leadership, UNAIDS has become the chief advocate for worldwide action against AIDS. Drawing on his skills as a scientist, manager and activist, Dr Piot has challenged world leaders to view AIDS in the context of social and economic development as well as security.

Ambassador Mark R. Dybul serves as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, leading the implementation of U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. From March to August 2006, he served as Acting U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, and prior to that he held the positions of Deputy U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Assistant U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. He is also a former member of the World Health Organization's Writing Committee to develop global HIV therapy guidelines.

As a continuation of the Award ceremony the first “Mother Teresa Memorial Annual Oration" will be given by Dr. Abdul J. Kalam, the former President of India, at 4.30 p.m. on March 3, 2008 , at the Indira Gandhi National Open University .

 

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