CMMB'S 75th Anniversary Events Emphasize Collaborative Efforts in Solutions to HIV/AIDS Pandemic, Challenge Faith-Based Perceptions 10/27/2003
From: Claudia Hite of the Catholic Medical Mission Board, 212-609-2581, chite@cmmb.org, or Norma Vavolizza, 212-687-0607, cmmb@nvcommunications.com NEW YORK, Oct. 27 -- An extraordinary gathering of international health policy, private sector, and religious healthcare leaders will join together to honor Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) as it celebrates its 75th anniversary. The observance will begin on Sunday, November 16 at a concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Patrick's Cathedral and conclude the following day with a global HIV/AIDS forum and gala benefit dinner. Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving On Sunday, November 16 at 10:15 a.m., His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, will lead distinguished clergy in a Mass of Thanksgiving dedicated to CMMB donors at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Among those joining His Eminence in concelebrating the Mass will be: Oscar Andres Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Bishop Kevin Dowling of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference; Bishop Franklyn Nubusasah, Vicar Apostolic of Francistown, South Africa; and Rev. William J. Scanlon, SJ, director of development, Jesuit Seminary and Mission Bureau, and chairman of the board of CMMB. "The vision of our founder, Dr. Paluel Flagg, was to care for the most vulnerable by mobilizing both the Catholic laity and Church leaders," said CMMB president and chief executive officer, John F. Galbraith. "Seventy-five years later his legacy continues to inspire us. Today CMMB has taken a leadership role to mobilize and influence the governmental, faith-based, and nongovernmental international organizations needed to respond to the overwhelming and urgent needs of those suffering from HIV/AIDS and to children dying of preventable diseases around the world." Global AIDS forum challenges perceptions about the role of faith-based organizations On Monday morning, November 17, at the Pierre Hotel in New York City, the importance of partnerships in shaping solutions to the HIV/AIDS pandemic will be the focus of a global AIDS forum, "Faith, Action & Partnerships: Confronting Global HIV/AIDS." CMMB is presenting this forum in conjunction with the Global Health Council, the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. The forum will examine the role of faith-based organizations in HIV/AIDS care, prevention, and treatment as well as the significance of faith-based and non-faith-based partnerships. Distinguished presenters include: Peter Piot, executive director, UNAIDS; Joseph F. O'Neill, MD, MS, MPH, deputy coordinator and chief medical officer of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State; Mohammed Abdullah, chairperson, Kenya Medical Research Institute - KEMRI; and Phangisile Mtshali, director, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Community Outreach and Education Fund. "In many areas of the developing world, faith-based groups and other non-governmental organizations are the mainstay of healthcare and public health. On the occasion of CMMB's anniversary, this important discussion will examine the value of these global health programs and the benefit they provide to those most in need," said Dr. Nils Daulaire, president and chief executive officer of the Global Health Council. "This dialogue can allow us to build solid partnerships and open the door to new funding relationships among the U.S. government, faith-based, and non-governmental organizations in the work to improve global health." CMMB's first ever International Founder's Awards CMMB's observances will conclude on Monday evening with a gala benefit dinner at The Pierre Hotel. The dinner will honor Henry A. McKinnell, Jr., PhD, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Pfizer, Inc. A highlight of the dinner will be a presentation of CMMB's International Founder's Awards in honor of Dr. Flagg. The recipients are Oscar Andres Cardinal Rodriquez Maradiaga, spiritual leader of more than 5.6 million Catholics in Honduras; and Graga Machel, Former First Lady of Mozambique and South Africa, and founder and president of the Foundation of Community Development. Dinner Chairman is Nicholas D'Agostino, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, D'Agostino Supermarkets, and a member of the CMMB Board. The Master of Ceremonies is noted sports commentator Don Criqui. About CMMB Dr. Paluel Flagg, an anesthesiologist at St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, after working as a volunteer with lepers in Haiti, founded the Catholic Medical Mission Board in 1928. Today, CMMB works collaboratively with programs that treat HIV/AIDS in Africa, tuberculosis in Zambia, and early childhood diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean. Global aid initiatives include: recruitment and placement of medical volunteers, medicine and medical supply shipments, emergency relief, and training grants for in-country primary healthcare workers. In fiscal year 2003, CMMB provided more than US$130 million in global aid, primarily through its network of faith-based organizations throughout the world. ------ EDITORS: To schedule interviews with John F. Galbraith, president and chief executive officer of CMMB and other dignitaries participating in CMMB's 75th anniversary events, please contact Claudia Hite, 212-609-2581, chite@cmmb.org or Norma Vavolizza, 212-687-0607, cmmb@nvcommunications.com. | |