The Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Laureates Visit to JapanMarch 8, 2023

Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

1. Purpose of the visit

(1) The Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize awarding ceremony was held in Africa on the occasion of TICAD8 in August last year, and the laureates were introduced to the African leaders and delegations attending TICAD8. This time we also aim to introduce the laureates to a broad range of people in Japan.
(2) To this end, we will invite the fourth prize laureates to Japan to provide an opportunity of reporting about the awarding ceremony and presenting their achievements, for the purpose of publication of the prize broadly to people in Japan and interact with the laureates

2. Visitors
(Laureates for the Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize)

[Medical Services Category]
・Mr. Adam Weiss (Guinea Worm Eradication Program, Director, The Carter Center)
・Ms. Meagan Martz (Senior Associate Director, The Carter Center)

• Laureates for the Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize
• The Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Award Ceremony

3. Invitation/ staying periods

(1) Invitation period
　　　March 12 (Sun) to 17 (Fri), 2023
(2) Period of their stay in Japan
　　　Around the period above, they will stay at their own expense.

4. Major courtesy calls and events expected

・ Individual courtesy calls on administrative organs, economic communities, medical organizations, etc.
・ Lecture sessions and symposiums hosted by organizations involved in Africa and development cooperation
・ Lecture sessions and symposiums hosted by organizations involved in Africa and development cooperation
・ Events in Fukushima Prefecture (ex. a courtesy call on the Governor, visits to Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum/ Seishunkan and the Tsuruga Castle, exchanges with high school students)

5. Media opportunities

・ March 13 (Mon)
Welcome ceremony hosted by the Cabinet Office
(17:45 to 18:30. Venue: Hotel New Otani Banquet Room Houou)

・March 14 (Tue)
Lectures and Dialogue event organized by the Africa Society of Japan
(14:00 to 16:00. Venue: Josui Kaikan Orion Room)

・ March 15 (Wed)
Events hosted by Yokohama City
(9:10 to 12:25. Venue: Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu, Nagahama Hall and Yokohama City University School of Medicine)
Lecture session organized by Nippon Medical School and a visit to Saisei Gallery
(14:00 to 16:30. Venue: Kitsuou Kaikan of Nippon Medical School and Saisei Gakusha Gallery in Kitsuou Kaikan)

・ March 16 (Thu)
Individual interviews
(in the morning. Venue: to be arranged through consultations
Symposium co-organized hosted by JICA, UNDP and the Cabinet Office
(14:00 to 16:00. Venue: JICA Ichigaya Building International Conference Center)

・ March 17 (Fri)
Events hosted by Fukushima Prefecture and Inawashiro Town, and Fukushima Press Interview)
(10:00 to 17:25. Venue: Fukushima Prefectural Government office, Inawashiro Town and Aizuwakamatsu City)
*Other individual interviews may be considered subject to demand.

Contact for inquiries

Office of Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, Cabinet Office
Tel: 03-5501-1706

Reference: Achievements of the laureates

Medical Research category

The Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for Medical Research goes to Dr. Salim S. Abdool Karim and Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim for their global contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment through scientifically rigorous research, for their role in training African scientists and for their steadfast scientific leadership in the response to Covid-19 in Africa.

Medical Services category

The Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for Medical Services goes to the Guinea Worm Eradication Program for the near eradication of Guinea worm disease, led by The Carter Center and carried out in partnership with ministries of health in Africa, communities, nongovernmental organizations, and key partners.

* The Prize aims to honor individuals or organizations with outstanding achievements in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa, thus contributing to the health and welfare of the African people and of all humankind (Cabinet Decision of July 28, 2006).

• Laureates for the Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize
• The Fourth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Award Ceremony