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US Embassy toasts partners

Published:Monday | October 7, 2019 | 12:08 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Dr Clive Anderson (second left)  specialist physician – dermatologist & HIV clinician in private practice, receives the Pinacle Award from Victoria Nibarger, PEPFAR coordinator, Caribbean Regional Programme. John McIntyre (left), chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Kingston and Jeremiah Knight, counsellor for public affairs at the embassy, look on. The occasion was the US Embassy’s SARA Awards ceremony held at the Spanish court Hotel on Friday, September 27.
Dr Clive Anderson (second left) specialist physician – dermatologist & HIV clinician in private practice, receives the Pinacle Award from Victoria Nibarger, PEPFAR coordinator, Caribbean Regional Programme. John McIntyre (left), chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Kingston and Jeremiah Knight, counsellor for public affairs at the embassy, look on. The occasion was the US Embassy’s SARA Awards ceremony held at the Spanish court Hotel on Friday, September 27.

The United States Embassy recently saluted 12 of its partners with the second annual Stakeholder Appreciation and Recognition Awards (SARA) at a glitzy ceremony at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on September 27.

Counsellor for Public Affairs Jeremiah Knight pointed out that the purpose of the award is to identify among external programme partners examples of best practices from varying sectors and to celebrate their exceptional performances. The goal is to ultimately create an environment that inspires new ideas for programming and give individuals and groups to celebrate and others to emulate.

John McIntyre, deputy chief of mission, called the occasion “special”, adding that it was in the strategic interest of the United States Embassy to recognise its partners. He stated further that the awards will also serve to further strengthen the long-standing ties between the US and Jamaica.

“There will be a lot more such initiatives coming out of the US Embassy. In fact, you are going to see us a lot more in the communities. We are not the embassy to Kingston, but we are the US Embassy to all of Jamaica,” said McIntyre.

The top award – The Pinnacle Award – was presented to Dr Clive Anderson of I-TECH Jamaica for his work to build the capacity of healthcare workers in Jamaica to manage HIV and also to improve the systems under which these healthcare workers toil.

“I am very grateful, but I am also humbled by the fact that this award really goes to people with whom I work,” he said. “I work with a fantastic set of people, who are very enthusiastic about what they do and want to ensure that patients get quality healthcare and so they make me look good. This is really for them.”

Anderson explained that his team consist of eight persons but noted that plans are in place to expand.

“Because of the work we are doing, we are expanding the team this year. It’s a small team, but we make up for our size with our impact,” he said.

The Northern Caribbean University was presented with the Partnership Impact Award.

paul.clarke@gleanerjm.com