George Alleyne
Encyclopedia
Sir George Alleyne currently serves as United Nations Secretary-General
's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
region. He was appointed to the position by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
in February 2003.
Alleyne studied medicine at the University of the West Indies
(UWI) and graduated as the gold medallist in 1957. Subsequently, he pursued his postgraduate training in internal medicine in the United Kingdom
and the United States
. In 1972, he became Professor of Medicine at the UWI. In 1976, he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Medicine. In October 2003 George Alleyne was appointed the Chancellor of the University of West Indies.
Besides his academic experience, Alleyne also gained much experience in working for international organizations. In February 1995, he became Director of the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO), Regional Office of the World Health Organization
(WHO). He served two four-year terms in this position until the end of 2002 and was elected Director Emeritus.
As Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
region, he is responsible for ensuring follow-up to the United Nations General Assembly
special session on HIV/AIDS and the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS, in the Caribbean region. Occasionally, he also represents the UN Secretary-General at events related to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region.
He was made Knight Bachelor
by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990, and awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community
in 2001. In October 2008 Alleyne received the Science of Peace Award from the Inter American Heart Foundation.
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
region. He was appointed to the position by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
in February 2003.
Alleyne studied medicine at the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
(UWI) and graduated as the gold medallist in 1957. Subsequently, he pursued his postgraduate training in internal medicine in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1972, he became Professor of Medicine at the UWI. In 1976, he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Medicine. In October 2003 George Alleyne was appointed the Chancellor of the University of West Indies.
Besides his academic experience, Alleyne also gained much experience in working for international organizations. In February 1995, he became Director of the Pan American Health Organization
Pan American Health Organization
The Pan American Health Organization is an international public health agency with over 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas...
(PAHO), Regional Office of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO). He served two four-year terms in this position until the end of 2002 and was elected Director Emeritus.
As Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
In the global AIDS pandemic, the Caribbean is the second-most affected region in the world. Among adults aged 15–44, AIDS has become the leading cause of death. The region's adult prevalence rate is 1.6% with national rates ranging from 0.2% to 2.7%. HIV transmission occurs largely through...
region, he is responsible for ensuring follow-up to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
special session on HIV/AIDS and the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS, in the Caribbean region. Occasionally, he also represents the UN Secretary-General at events related to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region.
He was made Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990, and awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community
Order of the Caribbean Community
The Order of the Caribbean Community is an award given toThe award was initiated at the Eighth Conference of Heads of State and Governments of CARICOM in 1987 and began bestowal in 1992. Decisions as to award are taken by the Advisory Committee for the Order of the Caribbean CommunityThe Insignia...
in 2001. In October 2008 Alleyne received the Science of Peace Award from the Inter American Heart Foundation.
External links
- Sir George Alleyne, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) website