PAHO receives Humanitarian Award from Barbados for its support during the COVID-19 pandemic

Barbados presents Humanitarian Award to PAHO

Bridgetown, Barbados, 28 April (PAHO/WHO) - In a National Awards Ceremony held on April 28, 2022, also recognized as Heroes Day in Barbados, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) was presented with a Humanitarian Award.

The Humanitarian Award is presented to representatives of the country’s regional and international agencies, and charitable foundations that generously donated supplies and resources to the Government and People of Barbados to assist in the management and control of COVID-19.

Dr. Karen Polson, Acting PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries accepted the award on behalf of the Organization from President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.  Also present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. 

The Director-General was a special invited guest of the Prime Minister and was conferred Barbados’ highest national honour, The Freedom of Barbados, for his leadership and friendship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Awards Ceremony was the largest in Barbados’ history of Awards presentations.  Over 6,000 Barbadians who worked on the frontlines to keep the country safe during the COVID-19 pandemic were rewarded during the ceremony.