"I am thankful that Ireland, and the rest of the world, has had Dr. Ryan’s steadying hand at the helm during this pandemic.”

An Irish doctor is to be honoured by the Irish Red Cross for his work in combatting Covid-19 globally. Dr. Michael Ryan, a native of Sligo and Mayo, was brought to global attention this year thanks to his role as Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme, leading the team responsible for the international readiness and response to Covid-19. It was announced on Wednesday that Dr. Ryan will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Irish Red Cross. Dr. Ryan was appointed as Deputy Director-General to the WHO the Health Emergencies Programme in 2017 but has been working as its Executive Director since 2019. Speaking of Dr. Ryan’s achievements, Pat Carey, Chair of the Irish Red Cross said, “Dr. Mike Ryan has been at the forefront of managing risks to global health for almost 25 years now and his career helping the world’s most vulnerable people is an inspiration to us all. “In what has been a difficult year for so many, the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards aims to celebrate the people who have dedicated their lives in service of others and I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of this award than Dr. Ryan. "As an organization the Red Cross has seen the devastating impact of Covid-19 in communities at home and abroad and I am thankful that Ireland, and the rest of the world, has had Dr. Ryan’s steadying hand at the helm during this pandemic.” The winners of the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards will be announced in a live virtual ceremony on 15 December at 7pm. John Lonergan, who took home the Lifetime Achievement award in 2019, will give a keynote speech at the event.