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IMHO is thrilled to announce that Dr. T. Sathiyamoorthy, current Medical Superintendent at the Vavuniya General Hospital in Northern Sri Lanka, has been named the winner of the 2010 InterAction Humanitarian Award! Each year InterAction recognizes an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in support of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the people they serve in the developing world. As the international relief and development community’s national staff and national counterparts often must surmount significant obstacles in order to carry out their work effectively in their own home countries or regions, InterAction seeks to honor these individuals and their bravery and commitment to the most vulnerable populations in their own communities. The award is meant to recognize individuals whose work reflects important leadership qualities such as courage, initiative, creativity, grace under pressure, personal integrity, personal sacrifice, and who have made significant contributions in the developing world in any of the following areas: disaster relief, human development, refugee assistance, civil society, equitable economic development, health, environment, education, population, or public policy.

Dr. Thangamuthu Sathiyamoorthy is a medical professional and administrator that has gone above and beyond in his service to the internally displaced and war-affected people of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka during times of war and great distress. He has served in various official capacities under the Ministry of Health, including Medical Officer at Akkarayankulam Hospital (2000-2002), Regional Director of Health Services—Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu Districts (2003-2009), Medical Superintendant for Kilinochchi Hospital (2007-2009), Provincial Director of Northern Province (October 2009-June 2010), Chairman of the Dengue Task Force in Vavuniya District (December 2009-March 2010), Director for IDP Healthcare at Manic Farm, Cheddikulam (January 2010-July 2010), and now Medical Superintendant for Vavuniya Hospital (July 2010-present). In all the areas where he has served, he has been directly engaged with high numbers of impoverished and war-affected refugees and resettled persons.

As many health staff fled during the conflict period (especially in the first half of 2009), Dr. Sathiyamoorthy heroically stood by his people. He established makeshift hospitals and coordinated emergency medical efforts. According to the ICRC, he, along with two colleagues, coordinated the evacuation of nearly 14,000 patients and their caregivers from the warzone between February and May 2009. In the post-conflict period, Dr. Sathiyamoorthy returned to serving the displaced by running IDP camps. Housing more than 300,000 IDPs, he coordinated efforts related to running hospitals and administering day & night patient care in all six zones. He organized monthly meetings with all stakeholders and helped to coordinate many of the health-related efforts of the UN agencies and INGOs. He was able to maintain a strong healthcare delivery system and implement outbreak control mechanisms. Dr. Sathiyamoorthy, a married father of three, has consistently acted with incredible courage and assumed great personal risk to his life and career. We congratulate him on this very well-deserved recognition!

You can read the official announcement on the InterAction website HERE.