Carlos Slim Foundation delivered the 2019 Health Awards
The delivery ceremony of the 2019 Health Awards was held in the Soumaya Museum, and was presided over by Carlos Slim Helú, Zoé Robledo Aburto, general director of IMSS, Germán Fajardo Dolci, director of the School of Medicine of the UNAM, and Juan Pablo Uribe, Health Minister of Colombia. In the event, Marco Antonio Slim Domit presented the advances and achievements by the Carlos Slim Foundation (FCS) health programs.
Before officials of the federal government, state governments, representatives of international organizations, health ministers of Central American countries, former Secretaries of Health of Mexico and academics, Marco Antonio Slim spoke of the importance of the different stakeholders in society working together. He also mentioned that: “Today’s reality presents us with extraordinary solutions that can reach everyone, in fundamental areas such as education and health, essential elements for eradicating one of the worst diseases, hopelessness. Without education and health, backwardness and marginalization are inevitable. With education and health, there is access to more and better possibilities for income and to participate in progress: they are the passport toward wellbeing.” said Slim.
Finally he referred to the role of FCS as generator of strategic alliances and catalyst of public policies. He explained how the development models for the Foundation make it possible, in alliance with public institutions and other organizations, to bring the digital health revolution to the entire population.
The cutting edge models and developments created by the Foundation have benefited millions of people, mainly from the most vulnerable groups, through programs for chronic illnesses, maternal and infant health, vaccination, transplants, genomic medicine, health education with the Aprende.org platform, formation of human capital; and others with a global scope in which the Foundation participates, like Mesoamerican Health, the elimination of malaria in Central America and Caribbean; and the eradication of polio worldwide; among others.
The ceremony of the 2019 Health Awards began with the delivery of a special recognition to Guillermo Soberón Acevedo, a prestigious academic and official of our country. Roberto Tapia Conyer, general director of the Carlos Slim Foundation, presented the moving introduction of Dr. Soberón, who has been distinguished in his professional career as Rector of UNAM and Secretary of Health, and who has dedicated many years of his life to working tirelessly for Mexico’s wellbeing.
Afterwards, Dr. Romeo Rodríguez Suárez, President of the IMSS Foundation and a member of the jury, presented the winners of the 2019 Health Awards, with which the Carlos Slim Foundation recognizes the work of professionals and organizations of excellence, committed to improving the health of the people of Latin America. The awards consist of recognition and 100,000 dollars for each of the two categories: Exceptional Institution and Research Career.
In this twelfth edition, the Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud was the winner of the award for the Exceptional Institution. With more than 90 years in existence the Gorgas Institute has concentrated its work on scientific research on tropical diseases; it currently has a wide array of research areas, which include transmissible and non-transmissible diseases, health system studies, national surveys and development of new technologies. The Gorgas Institute is the National Laboratory of Reference of Panamá and it functions as a reference for Central America. It offers diagnostic support and opportunities for education and training of scientists in the region.
The award for Research Career on this occasion was granted to two Mexicans:
To Dr. Adolfo Martínez Palomo, a medical surgeon who graduated from UNAM, with a doctorate in medical sciences and a master’s in science. He is a member of El Colegio Nacional and an emeritus researcher of the National Researchers System for his multiple contributions, which include the study of infectious diseases such as amebiasis, giardiasis and onchocerciasis. He has written five books on amebiasis and other medical topics, and more than 150 scientific articles. He is a member of scientific committees of the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Rockefeller Foundation and Harvard University, among others. He has received numerous awards and distinctions.
And to Dr. Juan Ángel Rivera Dommarco, who has an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the Universidad Iberoamericana, with a master’s and doctorate in International Nutrition. He is a researcher and academic of prestigious renown, both nationally and internationally. He has produced around 400 scientific publications, especially in the area of public health and nutrition, including 228 articles in scientific journals. He has participated as editor or author of 56 books.