NAIROBI,KENYA,OCTOBER 14- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) is set to receive princess of Asturias Award in October 20 in Oviedo, Spain for it’s accomplishment in effective treatments for Neglected Diseases.
The organization was founded in 2003 as a result of partnership between KEMRI,the World Health Organization, and has Over the last two decades successfully developed 12 treatments for six deadly diseases which include sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis(Kala-azar), and mycetoma.
“We gratefully accept the award on behalf of all the people who work with DNDi across the world to ensure that the best scientific research is available to the most neglected patients,” said Dr Monique Wasunna, DNDi Africa Ambassador.
As the organization celebrates it’s 20th anniversary, it has planned a charity run and free medical camp in west Pokot in November 2023 as part of it’s anniversary celebrations.
“More than a billion people belonging to the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged populations, half of whom are children, suffer from a group of diseases that cause severe social stigma and millions of deaths each year.,” said the jury for the 2023 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.
The winners of this award which has been running for 43 years, are distinguished individuals in the field of arts, social sciences, communication and humanity, concord, international cooperation, scientific and technical research , sports, and literature.
Recipients of the award are presented with a Joan Miró sculpture representing and symbolizing the award, a diploma, an insignia, and a cash prize of 50,000 Euros(approximately KSH7.5M).
The Kenyan Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge will also be one of the recipients to receive the award this year, thus making Kenya set history by winning two awards in this edition.
