UNAIDS Staff Awarded Medals for People’s Health

Mr. Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Country Director and Ms. Vladanka  Andreeva, UNAIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor were each awarded the Medal for People’s Health by Vice Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long in a ceremony on 25th June 2012.

Mr. Murphy and Ms. Andreeva have made significant contributions to the improved multisectoral coordination of the national response to HIV and the generation and use of strategic information, in order to better inform HIV-related policies, strategies and programmes.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Vice Minister Nguyen Thanh Long acknowledged, “UNAIDS has in recent years greatly helped in making policy changes happen on HIV and drug related issues in Viet Nam, such as in introduction of methadone treatment for heroin dependence. The agency has also supported strong leadership by various stakeholders at all levels to respond to HIV.  Mr. Murphy himself has become a member of the Vietnamese people’s families.”

Mr. Murphy emphasized that he was pleased to receive it along with his colleague as the medals are in recognition of the collective efforts made by all staff of UNAIDS Viet Nam.

Mr. Murphy also previously received the Order of Friendship from the President of Viet Nam and Awards of Recognition from the People’s Committees of Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City for his contributions to the national response to HIV, on behalf of UNAIDS Viet Nam.

Mr. Murphy started his duty in Viet Nam in early 2007 and will be assuming the role of UNAIDS Country Director in Myanmar this coming August. Ms. Andreeva also started her duty in Viet Nam in 2007. She will take up the position of Strategic Intervention Adviser at UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific.

The new UNAIDS Viet Nam Country Director, Mr. Tony Lisle, will start his term in Viet Nam in early September, moving from UNAIDS Cambodia.