The 2003 Mectizan Award Recipients

The Mectizan Donation Program would like to congratulate Dr. Adenike Abiose of Kaduna, Nigeria, and Mr. Joseph Rakuba Gabu of Bahr al Ghazal, Sudan, recipients of the 2003 Mectizan Award at the international and district levels, respectively. Ms. Joan Wainwright, Vice President of Public Affairs at Merck & Co., Inc., announced both awards during a ceremony held at Merck's headquarters on October 29, 2003 and presented Dr. Abiose with her award.

Dr. Abiose is a professor of ophthalmology and Medical Director of Sightcare International in Kaduna, Nigeria. She has worked on onchocerciasis control at the national and international levels for more than 30 years and has conducted numerous studies on the impact of treatment with Mectizan on onchocerciasis.

Mr. Gabu has served as the focal point for onchocerciasis control in Bahr al Ghazal, Sudan since 1977, and in spite of the civil conflict afflicting the region since 1955, has remained committed to delivering Mectizan to those in need even in high risk areas. Dr. Björn Thylefors will present the award to Mr. Gabu in Sudan in March 2004, and an article featuring Mr. Gabu will appear in the next issue of Mectizan Program Notes.

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Abiose's acceptance speech:

"As I reflect on 30 years of onchocerciasis control, the donation of Mectizan for as long as necessary by Merck, the partnerships that have developed around this, and the progress made in the field, I feel very humbled to have been nominated for this Mectizan Award.

It is rather contradictory that I should be receiving this award. Coming from an onchocerciasis endemic country and community, and having been infected with onchocerciasis myself earlier in life, I should rather have been standing here to give an award of appreciation to Merck & Co., on behalf of endemic communities for the generous donation of Mectizan.

Mectizan donation means much more to endemic communities than getting the tablets to the needy communities at the end of the road, for as long as necessary. It means also the capacity development in endemic countries to face the challenges not only of onchocerciasis control, but also other disease control programs.

It means getting health services to some communities at the end of the road for the very first time and using the structures developed around Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin for Mectizan distribution to address other health and community development activities.

It means research opportunities for scientists from endemic countries, opportunities which they may not have had otherwise. Such an opportunity played a major role in my being here today.

Mectizan also means empowering the communities at the end of the road to take responsibility for their own health and the health of their families.

The unique demonstration of corporate responsibility by Merck & Co., 16 years ago in the donation of Mectizan to communities, which could not otherwise afford it, opened a new chapter in public health, which has been followed by other donations like albendazole and azithromycin.

For these reasons and for the dedication of all involved in the Mectizan Donation Program and in onchocerciasis control, I cannot adequately express the gratitude of all endemic communities. . . .

I thank Merck most sincerely for this award, which I shall always cherish. Thank you all and God bless."