Dr Biangtung Langkham, has been involved in early responses to the twin epidemics of drug use and HIV in his hometown of Churachandpur, Manipur, India since the early 1990s. Starting within the Christian community in Manipur, he has gone on to work across tribal and religious boundaries, facilitating local community based responses to HIV and substance misuse. The Shalom project.

Runners up

Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is an ordained priest in the Church of Uganda.  In 1992, he became the first African religious leader to openly declare his HIV-positive status.  He has since devoted his life to an AIDS ministry which has taken him to over 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and many other parts of the world.

Dr. Jo Lusi uses a wholistic and community based model to reach out to people suffering with the HIV virus, and especially women traumatized by rape, as told in a recent Newsweek article, Nov 2006.  Christianity Today has described Jo as "being built like George Foreman and having the vocabulary of Mohammed Ali".  This is an appropriate metaphor as Jo is a strong advocate of patients with HIV in both word and deed.  He does this with a sense of urgency.

Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi is an obstetrician and researcher. She has been working at Kenya Medical Research Institute for the last twelve  years where she has been involved in many research projects related to HIV and AIDS. Her community work has continued to make a tremendous impact in the community at large. As a honorary lecturer at the University of Nairobi and at the same time the Principle investigator of the many studies she has been involved in, Dr. Bukusi continues as a role model and mentor to many students, colleagues and community members.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your participation and interest in the nomination process.

We are excited to announce that we have eight wonderful people
nominated.

The following have been nominated for the inaugural "Dignity and Right to Health" Award.

1. Nathan Grills - Australia
2. Gideon Byamugisha - Uganda
3. Veronica Moss - UK
4. Jo Lusi -DRC
5. Dr. Langkham - India
6. Bobby Zachariah - India
7. Shobha Yohan - India
8. Elisabeth Bukusi - Kenya.

The winner will be announced on December 1, World AIDS Day.

The "Dignity and Right to Health Award" is an international award in the movement to address HIV. The "Dignity and Right to Health Award" is an inaugural award, which is an activity of the International Christian Medical and Dental Association HIV Initiative. The award provides an essential opportunity to recognise, support and publicize the most outstanding role models and champions acting to stop this global epidemic. It is well positioned to become an important symbol for ensuring that voices from diverse communities and countries are acknowledged and championed. The  Dignity and Right to Health Award aims to model, mobilise and encourage  creative and sustainable ways that enhance the dignity and human rights of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS epidemic and affected by the epidemic.

The Award will be given to individuals for excellence, outstanding leadership and compassion in responding to HIV/AIDS. The process will seek nominees who demonstrate the following:-

- significant impact at local and wider level,

- empowers others in integrated community responses,

- facilitates church integration and participation in best practice models of care
- demonstrates excellence in full community involvement and empowerment of People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)

- works, facilitates  and advocates for gender equality in community participation and response to the epidemic
- links well with government and other actors in a comprehensive approach to the epidemic
- models creative and compassionate responses that inspire many to similarly enhance the dignity and human rights of people infected and affected by the epidemic
- does justice, loves kindness, and walks humbly with their God

An important part of this award process is to seek appropriate publicity
that will allow Christian concern and how this is demonstrated
practically in our communities, to allow this concern and example to
shine so it can be an encouragement and model to others.
 

 

 

 

Dignity and Right to Health Award

The “Dignity and Right to Health Award” is an international symbol in the movement to address HIV. The “Dignity and Right to Health Award” is an inaugural award, which is an activity of the International Christian Medical and Dental Association HIV Initiative. The award provides an essential opportunity to recognise, support and publicize the most outstanding role models and champions acting to stop this global epidemic. It is well positioned to become an important symbol for ensuring that voices from diverse communities and countries are acknowledged and championed.
The  Dignity and Right to Health Award  aims to model, mobilise and encourage  creative and sustainable ways that enhance the dignity and human rights of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS and affected by the epidemic.  click here to see the full article

 

Process
Proposed Award Categories
Working in partnership with ICMDA and national bodies, the ICMDA HIV Initiaitve will seek nominations of individuals who demonstrate excellence, leadership and compassion in HIV work in a field of prevention, treatment, research, care, support and / or advocacy.

This award will be grounded in the provisions of the Merroo statement.

Each year on December 1, World AIDS Day, we will announce the inaugural winner of the "Dignity and Right to Health Award" of the ICMDA HIV Initiative. This will be awarded to an individual who has powerfully and compassionately engaged with the challenges of the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Nomination Process
Nominations will be available each year online from June 1 until September 30. It will
be important for all ICMDA partners and national bodies to ensure that information on the award is disseminated at national and local levels through their networks.

Nomination Criteria
The majority of awards will be granted to individuals in developing countries. Every effort has also been made to keep the nomination process easy and accessible as it is important to allow for everyone, even those with limited resources and access to services, to be able to nominate.

Selection Criteria
The Award will be given to individuals for excellence, outstanding leadership and compassion in responding to HIV/AIDS. The process will seek nominees who demonstrate the following:-
- significant impact at local and wider level,
- empowers others in integrated community responses,
- facilitates church integration and participation in best practice models of care
- demonstrates excellence in full community involvement and empowerment of People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)
- works, facilitates  and advocates for gender equality in community participation and response to the epidemic
- links well with government and other actors in a comprehensive approach to the epidemic
- models creative and compassionate responses that inspire many to similarly enhance the dignity and human rights of people infected and affected by the epidemic.
- does justice, loves kindness, and walks humbly with God.

Review Committee
The Review Committee will oversee the nominations and communicate during the time of October and November to conduct a review of the nominations and identify the winner(s).
The committee will be reviewed at each subsequent ICMDA Congress.
The proposed structure will seek diverse representation from ICMDA members.