Ugandan medic wins award for HIV
A UGANDAN scientist, Dr. Abdullah Kirumira, has won an award from the London-based The Economist magazine for his research on HIV/AIDS.
By Raymond Baguma
and Agencies
A UGANDAN scientist, Dr. Abdullah Kirumira, has won an award from the London-based The Economist magazine for his research on HIV/AIDS.
Kirumira is the founder and chief executive officer of BioMedica Diagnostics, a medical biotechnology company based in Windsor, Canada.
He will be recognised for inventing one of the world’s first rapid HIV-testing kits.
A 25-member panel of The Economist innovation award, chaired by Tom Standage, the magazine’s business editor, selected Kirumira.
The award will be presented to him tomorrow by John Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief, at the London Science Museum, during the magazine’s Sixth Annual Innovation Awards.
“You have been chosen by The Economist to receive our innovation award in the area of bioscience for the contributions you have made with regard to the development of rapid diagnostic HIV testing,†reads a letter from Standage to Kirumira.
The magazine recognises successful innovators in bioscience, computing and telecommunications, energy and the environment, social and economic innovation, consumer products, and the ‘no boundaries’ category.
Kirumira will be recognised as a top innovator of 2007 and will receive the award under the bioscience category.
Also to be recognised in the same category is Hermes Chan, the president of MedMira, a company that manufactures diagnostic testing kits.
It is located in Halifax, Canada.
According to Standage, the awards are given to individuals, rather than institutions for which they work.
They do not involve cash prizes but include recognition in the pages of the magazine. Kirumira studied at Kamuli Primary School in Bugere and later joined Kibuli Secondary School.
He attained a degree in Medicine from Makerere University.
His mother, Maimuna Nabagereka, yesterday said: “He last came to visit us early this year. We had not received the news of his award. We will organise a party to congratulate him.†upon the award.â€
and Agencies
A UGANDAN scientist, Dr. Abdullah Kirumira, has won an award from the London-based The Economist magazine for his research on HIV/AIDS.
Kirumira is the founder and chief executive officer of BioMedica Diagnostics, a medical biotechnology company based in Windsor, Canada.
He will be recognised for inventing one of the world’s first rapid HIV-testing kits.
A 25-member panel of The Economist innovation award, chaired by Tom Standage, the magazine’s business editor, selected Kirumira.
The award will be presented to him tomorrow by John Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief, at the London Science Museum, during the magazine’s Sixth Annual Innovation Awards.
“You have been chosen by The Economist to receive our innovation award in the area of bioscience for the contributions you have made with regard to the development of rapid diagnostic HIV testing,†reads a letter from Standage to Kirumira.
The magazine recognises successful innovators in bioscience, computing and telecommunications, energy and the environment, social and economic innovation, consumer products, and the ‘no boundaries’ category.
Kirumira will be recognised as a top innovator of 2007 and will receive the award under the bioscience category.
Also to be recognised in the same category is Hermes Chan, the president of MedMira, a company that manufactures diagnostic testing kits.
It is located in Halifax, Canada.
According to Standage, the awards are given to individuals, rather than institutions for which they work.
They do not involve cash prizes but include recognition in the pages of the magazine. Kirumira studied at Kamuli Primary School in Bugere and later joined Kibuli Secondary School.
He attained a degree in Medicine from Makerere University.
His mother, Maimuna Nabagereka, yesterday said: “He last came to visit us early this year. We had not received the news of his award. We will organise a party to congratulate him.†upon the award.â€