Newly named Science and Technology Laureate, Dr Niven Narain, has pledged to use his US$35,000 cash prize from the Anthony N Sabga Awards for Caribbean Excellence to establish a foundation focused on women’s health in Guyana and the United States.

The Guyanese-born American Narain made the announcement on Saturday night while accepting his award at a ceremony in Georgetown, Guyana.

The pharmaceutical developer, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of Boston-based BPGbio, said the initiative was inspired by the loss of his grandmother to cancer.

“Tonight, I honour my grandmother,” Narain said. “I will use the funds received from this award to start the Rukhminia Latchman Foundation for Women’s Health.”

He said the foundation would operate in Georgetown and Miami, with its first project delivering healthcare directly to women through mobile medical units.

“Our first initiative is going to be Women’s Health on Wheels, which brings mobile medical services directly to working mothers, especially single mothers,” he said.

The announcement drew an immediate response from Patron of the Anthony N Sabga Awards and Executive Chairman of the ANSA McAL Group, A. Norman Sabga.

“I will match your donation in the creation of this foundation,” Sabga told Narain. “And we look forward to seeing it grow and grow.”

Narain received the Science and Technology award for his work using artificial intelligence to develop targeted pharmaceuticals that could improve treatment outcomes and transform lives globally.

The Science and Technology award was shared with Jamaican climate scientist Professor Tannecia Stephenson.
Other awardees were Barbadian visual artist Sheena Rose, who received the Arts and Letters award; Jamaican telecommunications entrepreneur Dean Nevers, who was recognised in Entrepreneurship; and Barbadian social activist Shamelle Rice, who received the award for Public and Civic Contributions.

Each category winner receives the local currency equivalent of TT$500,000. The Science and Technology award was divided between Narain and Stephenson.

The Anthony N Sabga Awards for Caribbean Excellence are administered by the ANSA McAL Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ANSA McAL Group.

Established in 1993, the foundation supports projects and initiatives of national and regional significance throughout the Caribbean. (Trinidad and Togabo Guardian)