Empress were present at the 2008 ceremony along with a large number of African heads of state. Were was honoured in the Medical Services category; and her laureate lecture topic was "Potential for Improvement in Africa's Health Through Evidence and Persistence in the Spirit of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi?" The first awards of this international prize—consisting of a citation, a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (US$843,668) were only intended to be the first in a continuing series; and subsequently the Prize is expected to be awarded every five years. The prize has been made possible through a combination of government funding and private donations. Notes References "Prof. Were commended," KBC (Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation). 21 May 2008. Jevans Nyabiage, Jevans and Waikwa Maina. "Kenya: Country to Benefit From Sh6.2 Billion Food Kitty," Daily Nation (Nairobi). 21 May 2008. External links Japanese Government Internet TV: streaming video, "Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize," 2007/04/26 (5 mins.) Development Gateway Foundation: Noguchi Prize, Were bio Japan Society for the Promotion of Science: Purpose and Description of the Noguchi Prize Canadian Health Services Foundation (CHSRF/FCRSS): Policy & Practice Japan, Cabinet Office: Were, CV Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Noguchi Prize, press release Global Health Council: AMREF African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF): AMREF Board member MAP International: Queen Elizabeth II Gold Medal Kenyan public health doctors Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health alumni 1940 births Living people Elders of the Order of the Burning Spear University of Nairobi alumni Kenyan women writers Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Kenyan Quakers Women public health doctors People associated with Moi University