‘Enormous service’ of Curry’s Dr Mike Ryan recognised at Áras an Uachtaráin

DR MIKE RYAN has received a Distinguished Service Award from President of Ireland Michael D Higgins.

Dr Ryan, a native of Curry, was recognised for his decades of work in global public health with the World Health Organisation (WHO), which he joined in 1996 and where he now serves as an executive director.

The presentation was made at Áras an Uachtaráin last Thursday where President Higgins praised Ryan for his “enormous service to global public health over many decades” which had “raised the reputation and standing of Ireland”.

The award had originally been expected to be delivered at a ceremony at the Áras on December 2 where 2020 and 2021 recipients were recognised. However, Ryan was unable to attend at that time due to his WHO commitments. Dr Ryan has been a long-time advocate for vaccine equality and became a prominent figure at the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past year he has been particularly vocal about what he feels is an unequal balance in the global vaccine rollout to ensure poorer nations are adequately equipped to protect their citizens against the virus and that there is an onus on nations with a greater volume of vaccines to share them.

Dr Ryan told the President that Ireland could be a lead force in addressing the situation by supporting the South African Technology Transfer Hub.

“Dr Ryan has exhibited extraordinary resolve and focus, promoting the adoption of original, comprehensive, and carefully planned strategies to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus, while balancing the need to ensure the protection of livelihoods and human rights,” President Higgins said.

“He has consistently advocated for the sharing of knowledge and technology with those who have the least access to them, especially in the developing world.”