Monday, May 29 2017 08:52

ArmInfo.The laureate of the prize Aurora-2017 became Tom Catena from Southern Sudan. The name of Aurora prize winner, held in Yerevan on May 28 was announced by legendary chansonnier Charles Aznavour. 

"Thank you for the  amazing job that you do "Aurora". Thanks to the  Armenian people. I've been here only a week, however, I can say that  this is my best trip. I have never met such amazing, sympathetic,  kind people. Here, I feel at home, "- said Tom Catena, after  receiving Aurora figurine.

Speaking about his work in general , the doctor noted that despite  the fact that he is now in Yerevan, his thoughts are in his hospital  in Sudan. To note, that three Armenian doctors expressed their  readiness to go to Sudan to replace Catena, so that he could come to  the awarding ceremony. "I am often asked what is the most difficult  part of my job. And I can say that the most difficult and terrible  thing is to see how your patient dies, and you cannot do anything.  Usually, doctors difficultly overcome  the death of patients, but  even from such situations they must be able to learn lessons. I  remember well all my patients, and those who I  helped, and those who  I could not>, the doctor said. To note, Dr. Tom Catena left his home  in the United States and traveled to Sudan to save lives. He has been  saving lives over two decades, by risking his own life.

In total, 5 people - Fartun Adan and Ilvad Elman from Somalia, who  created a fund to help women, reached final  of Aurora-2017 prize,  victims of sexual violence, Congolese gynecologist, Knight of the  Order of the Legion of Honor Denis Mukvege - helping women ,affected  by sexual violence (helped to more than 50 thousand people); Chairman  of the Organization for Capacity Building and Development of the  Education System Nur Djamila Afghani, who  fights for the rights of  women in her country ( helped more than 50 thousand people); Syrian  doctor Muhammad Darwish, has already provided medical assistance to  over 40,000 people in Syria; And Dr. Catena, who takes up to 400  patients per day, makes up to a thousand operations a year.

In accordance with the rules of this unique award, the winner Tom  Catena chose the following three organizations to receive a  humanitarian award $ 1 million: this is the African Medical Mission  Foundation (AMHF, USA); Aktion Canchanabury (Germany); Council of the  Catholic Medical Mission (CMMB USA).

To note, international humanitarian imitative Aurora and Aurora  prize, which  total prize fund is $ 1 million, were created on behalf  of the descendants of the survivors of Armenian Genocide and as a  mark  of gratitude to those who risked their lives and well-being for  the sake of saving others. At the first awarding ceremony held in  Armenian capital on April 24, 2016, the winner of the Aurora Prize  was Marguerite Barankits, founder of Shalom House and REMA Hospital  in Burundi. Barankits was honored for her unique contribution to the  rescue of thousands of children and helping orphans and refugees  affected by the civil war in Burundi.