Zimbabwe’s Dr Gwatidzo wins international rights award

Alex Bell
08 June 2009

The Chairperson of Zimbabwe’s Association for Doctors for Human Rights, Doctor Douglas Gwatidzo, has been announced as the 2009 winner of the prestigious Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights.

The Global Health Council selected Gwatidzo as the winner, in recognition of his and the Association’s work in advocating for health rights and freedom from torture in Zimbabwe. The Council also commended the support that Gwatidzo and other members of the Association have provided to fellow health workers during the collapse of Zimbabwe’s health system, including mentoring young medical students and providing medical documentation and care for victims of organised violence and torture.

Most recently Dr Gwatidzo led the urgent appeal for assistance during the start of last year’s deadly cholera epidemic, which saw more than 4000 official deaths. His association was instrumental in the fight against the epidemic, which for months spiraled out of control in the midst of Zimbabwe’s collapse. Dr Gwatidzo and his association have also since been at the centre of trying to rebuild the shattered health system.

The globally recognised award is named after the late Jonathan Mann, a
dedicated health and human rights activist, who died in a plane crash in
1998. It is bestowed annually upon a leading practitioner in health and
human rights and comes with a financial reward.

The Award was presented to Gwatidzo at a special awards ceremony in Washington, held during the Global Health Council’s Annual Conference 11 days ago.