Brian Greenwood facts for kids

Sir Brian Mellor Greenwood (born 1938) is a British doctor and scientist. He is famous for his important work in medical research. He was the first person to receive the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize. He is also a professor of tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Fighting Malaria

Sir Brian Greenwood has spent his career working to reduce the effects of malaria. Malaria is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes. He worked for ten years in Nigeria and fifteen years in the Gambia. In these places, he led the Medical Research Council Laboratories. His main research focused on malaria and other infections.

Malaria has been very hard to control and treat. Even with new medicines, it has been a challenge to stop the disease.

Sir Brian has also worked hard to promote a simple way to prevent malaria. He encourages using special mosquito nets. These nets are treated with chemicals. They help protect people from malaria-infected mosquitoes while they sleep.

In 2012, Sir Brian was made a knight. This honour was for his important work in malaria research in Africa.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Brian Greenwood has received many awards for his work:

• 1977 – Chalmers Medal from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH).
• 1987 – Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
• 1991 – Donald Mackay Medal from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
• 1993 – Received an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University in Sweden.
• 1995 – Won the Adesuyi Prize from the West African Health Community.
• 2001 – Awarded the Manson Medal from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
• 2008 – Received the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for Medical Research.
• 2011 – Appointed Knight Bachelor by the Queen.
• 2012 – Won the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award.

The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize

The Japanese Government created the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize in 2006. This award recognizes great achievements in medical research and services. It focuses on fighting infectious diseases in Africa. It also honours people who create new medical service systems there.

The first awards were given in April 2008 in Yokohama, Japan. This event happened during the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Yokohama was chosen because Dr. Noguchi, whom the prize is named after, worked there in 1899.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda presented the awards. The Emperor and Empress of Japan were also there. Many African leaders attended the ceremony too.

Sir Brian Greenwood received the prize in the Medical Research category. His lecture topic was "Malaria elimination – Is it possible?"

The prize includes a medal, a special mention, and 100 million yen (about US$843,668). This prize is given every five years. It is funded by the Japanese government and private donations.