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Professor Miriam Were nominated for 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Eve woman

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 Professor Miriam Were has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize (Photo: Courtesy)

Professor Were becomes the second woman in Kenya’s history to be nominated for the prestigious prize, after the late Wangari Maathai.

Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Prof Miriam Were, known for her work in public health, has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize amongst 342 other candidates.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize list comes as the second largest after that of 2016 that hard a record of 376 candidates. The 2022 laureate will be announced in October.

About Professor Miriam Were

Born in April 12th, 1940, Professor Were is a public health advocate, a recipient of the first Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize that was established by the Japanese Government in 2006 and an academic.

A graduate of William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa in the United States, Were began her career in public health with a degree in Natural Sciences, and a postgraduate Diploma in Education, after which she became a high school teacher of Chemistry and Biology before she proceeded for her medical studies.

Professor Were who is the current Chancellor at Moi University, Eldoret, graduated from the school of medicine at the University of Nairobi and rose to become the head of the department of community medicine at the same University.

She then proceeded to study at John Hopkins University where she got her doctorate in public health, Health planning and Management in 1981.

Professor Were was nominated by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW).

 Professor Miriam Were giving a speech (Photo: Courtesy)

“The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) have nominated Dr. Miriam Were of Kenya for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. The timing of this appointment is to draw attention to the tireless work of Dr. Miriam Were since the 1970s to promote trust between governments, health authorities and citizens through culturally sensitive programs,” the statement read in part.

The General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Joyce Ajlouny, said in a statement that it is an honor to have the opportunity to nominate Dr. Were for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of public health policy and global health equity. Dr Were’s work on community-based health initiatives around the world is powerful and essential for building a just and peaceful future,” said Ajlouny.

On her part, Dr. Were expressed deep gratitude that the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“I believe in the community approach as a modality for promoting both peace and health by empowering individuals and communities to lead the resolution of their problems, including those set out in the Sustainable Development Goals”, she said.

Dr. Were is the current chairperson of the National AIDS Control Council Kenya (NACC), which coordinates the national HIV/AIDS response in Kenya. She is also Dr. Were is also the serving Chairperson of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), and serves on the advisory board of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, and is on the board of directors of Medical Assistance Programs International (MAP) in the United States.

Dr. Were directed the UN population Fund Country Support Team (UNFPA/CST) for East and Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa. She also directed the Community-Based Health Care (CBHC) Project in Kakamega, and servedas Chief of Health and Nutrition in UNICEF Ethiopia and working as WHO Representative and Chief of Mission in Ethiopia.

Were is also the founder of the UZIMA Foundation, an NGO for youth-empowerment.

Were’s appointment has come a day after the government honored her for her work in various government institutions focused on empowering women in the country.

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