ALL DESERVE ACCESS TO THE COVID-19 VACCINE
"NONE OF US IS SAFE UNTIL ALL OF US ARE SAFE," SAYS DR MIKE RYAN OF WHO AS HE ACCEPTS TRÓCAIRE'S ROMERO AWARD. 42 BY DAVID O'HARE
In
a passionate address on Ash Wednesday, Sligo-born Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said richer countries must share COVID-19 vaccines with frontline healthcare workers and the most vulnerable in developing countries. "Once we cover those individuals who are most vulnerable in our society, can we then at least begin to share with those in the world who don't have access to the vaccine? None of us is safe until all of us are safe," he said. Dr Ryan and Dr Lilian Otiso, of Kenyan healthcare provider LVCT Health, were receiving Trócaire's Romero Award in an online ceremony in recognition of their efforts to protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19. The annual award, given to honour outstanding contributions to global justice, was given this year to co-recipients to recognise the efforts at the global and local levels to protect people from the virus. Dr Ryan was awarded for his global leadership and his efforts to highlight the risks facing vulnerable people in the developing
REALITY APRIL 2021
world, while LVCT Health, a Trócaire partner, was named as co-recipient for their efforts to protect vulnerable young women in Kenya throughout the pandemic. Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said: "The last 12 months have been enormously difficult for everybody. Combatting COVID-19 has required a global and local response. We are delighted to award the Romero Award to Dr Mike Ryan for his global leadership and to LVCT Health for their vitally important
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work in protecting young women in Kenya. "Trócaire's partners around the world have had to change their programmes entirely to respond to the health and social needs brought about by the pandemic. LVCT Health has worked with vulnerable women in Kenya to keep them safe, not only from COVID-19 but also from gender-based violence. The rates of violence against women around the world have grown significantly during the pandemic. Violence against women is itself a pandemic, and we are delighted to work with such a strong partner as LVCT Health to help keep young women safe. "We are also delighted to honour Dr Mike Ryan. Dr Ryan has consistently highlighted the threat of COVID-19 in the developing world and the need for global solidarity in our response to the virus. This message is so important now at a time when the unequal distribution of vaccines threatens to derail the global effort to combat this virus." NO DISCRIMINATION Accepting the Romero Award, Dr Ryan said:
