USAID Honors Georgian Doctor With Outstanding Citizen Award
On June 16, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored an awards assembly at the Courtyard by Marriott, Tbilisi, honoring Dr. Irakli Sasania of the M. Iashvili Children’s Hospital with the Outstanding Citizen Award. Dr. Sasania was presented this title in recognition of his cooperation with Dr. H. Kenneth Walker of the state of Georgia, in their mission to develop child emergency care in the Republic of Georgia. As a result of this partnership the first contemporary children’s emergency ward was established in Tbilisi, unparalleled in scale throughout the countries of the former Soviet Union.
The USAID Outstanding Citizen Award is given to those citizens who selflessly contribute to international development and assist in fulfilling USAID’s mission in implementing economic and humanitarian aid.
A brief documentary was shown at the commencement of the reception narrating the partnership of the two Georgias and the successful history of Georgia’s innovative children’s emergency hospital care. The documentary was followed by laudatory speeches given by United States Ambassador John Tefft, American International Health Alliance (AIHA) Executive Director James P. Smith, Dr. Walker, Chief of Staff for USAID's Europe and Eurasia Bureau Brock Bierman, and the acceptance address of Dr. Sasania.
First Lady Sandra Roelofs attended the award presentation which was covered by the leading Georgian national television stations and journalists. |
