The maiden award, comprising a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (about US$843,668) - will be presented at the 2008 Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
The prize, which is in two categories - one honouring individuals for outstanding work in the field of medical research, and the other recognising organisations and/or individuals credited with outstanding work in the field of medical services in Africa - will be awarded every five years to coincide with TICAD.
Under the terms of the WHO-Japan cooperation agreement signed in Brazzaville on Monday, Japan will make available to the WHO Regional Office for Africa US$500,000 "to provide administrative services in support of the work of the Sub-Committee on medical services for the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize."
The agreement was initialed by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Luis Sambo, and Hajime Inoue, Director of the Office for International Cooperation, at Japan's Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry.
The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize was established by the Japanese government in 2006 in honour of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, a pioneer Japanese bacteriologist of legendary stature who died after contracting yellow fever in Accra, Ghana, in 1928.
The deadline for the submission of nominations and supporting documentation for the maiden award is 10 July, 2007. 01 May 2007 - PANA
 
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