May, 14 2019, AU Headquarters- Two African Doctors have been selected as laureates in this year’s Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for their exemplary work in medical research and services. The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Ceremony is set to be held on the 30th of August 2019, in Yokohama, Japan, on the margins of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7).

The African Union has lauded the decision by the Government of Japan to award Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, the General Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) and a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa. He will receive the award under the medical research category. Dr. Francis Gervase Omaswa, the Executive Director of African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) will also receive an award under the medical services category.

The Prize aims to honor individuals or organizations with outstanding achievements in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa, thus contributing to the health and welfare of the African people and of all humankind.

The Award aligns with the African Union Agenda 2063, "Aspiration 1" which seeks “a prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development”. Among the Aspirations' goals is the quest to have a healthy and well-nourished citizens and to expand access to quality health care services, particularly for women and girls.

Japan’s Prime Minister Mr. Shinzō Abe made a final decision of the laureates from the recommendation by the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize (HNAP) Committee. The committee, chaired by Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, Professor Emeritus of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, selected the final candidates among individuals or organizations recommended by each sub-committee (medical research category and medical services category).

The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize is composed of a citation, a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (approximately 1 million US dollars) for each laureate. The honorarium is disbursed from the Government of Japan.

The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize was established as a Cabinet Decision of the Government of Japan in July 28, 2006. The Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize was held in June 2013 on the occasion of TICAD V, in Japan.

Read the profiles and summaries of the awardees - Awardees profiles and summaries of achievements

For further information, contact
Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer- Agenda 2063 | African Union Commission | E-mail: ochiengj@africa-union.org

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web Site: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia.