Indian Mother Teresa award honors two for helping those with HIV/AIDS

Published: 2008-03-03

NEW DELHI (CNS) -- The Catholic Church in India's first Blessed Mother Teresa International Humanitarian Award honored two men for their work with people affected by HIV and AIDS. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, and Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, were presented with the award Feb. 26, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. The Commission for Health of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India launched the award to recognize individuals for outstanding international contributions toward promoting humanity, especially among the poor. The commission plans to give it annually. The award is named after Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whose work for the "poorest of the poor" gained her international recognition, including the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She died in 1997. Piot, who has directed UNAIDS since its creation in 1995, "challenged world leaders to view AIDS in the context of social and economic development and security," said the citation of his award. Dybul, whose chief mission is to implement a $15 billion U.S. emergency program to combat AIDS around the world, was cited for providing "inspiring leadership" in implementing the U.S. plan.

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