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I am once again very pleased to be a party to the award of the Champalimaud Vision Prize.

When instituting this Prize, the Champalimaud Foundation decided that it would be annually awarded, alternating between those who would carry out socially outstanding work on vision problems and those who would be noted with research in this area. This year, such as in 2007, when it first occurred, the António Champalimaud Prize distinguishes socially outstanding work.

The 2009 prize winner is an international institution which is named after a notable individual, who will forever be an example of a capacity for crusading, of a refusal to give way to extreme adversity and of a great will for undertaking projects – Helen Keller.

Helen Keller International is one of the oldest non governmental organizations dedicated to problems concerning vision. It has existed for more than 90 years under several names before deciding, in 1977, to adopt Helen Keller as its designation.

It should be mentioned here that its founder, George Kessler, was himself a lucky survivor of a tragedy which scarred the History of the XX century. The foundation which he set up is now receiving an award in Lisbon and this prize will also be a tribute to those who were aboard the ship in which George Kessler was a passenger, the “Lusitania”.

I am always mindful that Kessler’s luck, on that tragic May 7th in 1915, when the “Lusitania” was torpedoed, resulted in the joy of all those who have benefited from the activities of Helen Keller International. From the horrors of war and from the personal experience of those affected by the tragedy, a project emerged which is today one of the most successful in the recovery of vision and prevention of blindness.

Helen Keller International is a worldwide philanthropic organization, with activities focused, particularly in Africa and in Asia, in the prevention of malnutrition blindness resulting from the chronic deficit of vitamin A.

In this area, I must stress the notable activities of Helen Keller International in Mozambique, a country for which Portugal has a great affection. It is also especially significant for me to be associated with this ceremony due to what it represents in respect of our cooperation with Mozambique.

As I have already referred in former years, much of what the António Champalimaud Foundation is today is owed to the untiring spirit and competence of Dr. Leonor Beleza, to whom I address a friendly word of admiration and respect.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Issues concerning health have a growing importance in the world in which we live. Major international epidemics are not only construed from flu. We have endemic problems which we cannot ignore. In health policies the balance between a permanent status of readiness, which allows for a fast and effective reaction to the expected threats, and the zeal which must be maintained in regular and ongoing health protection, creates an additional challenge to decision makers.

Independently from the dimension of threats to health, which gain greater visibility in certain historic moments, it is in civil behaviour and in the will to jointly contribute for the common welfare that resides the strength of societies to protect the people from sickness.

In this perspective, the civic example of non governmental organizations connected to health can be extremely useful. In many instances these organizations incite peoples and countries to join efforts to help the weakest and less favoured and to contribute towards worldwide health.

Paying tribute to an organization which has been active for more than 90 years is a moment in which reflection is aroused and which binds us to a commitment to never give up the search for good causes.

For this reason also, to be here for the third consecutive year is to reassert my confidence in the work of the Champalimaud Foundation and in its capacity to contribute towards the improvement in people’s health. We await with natural anticipation the development of the project which the Foundation aims to carry out in the area of the fight against cancer, commencing with the Research Centre which it is building very near to this magnificent location where we are now.

Amongst us, the means and the people exist and are increasing. We are now bound not to stop; we have the duty to continue investing in the capabilities of Portuguese scientists and to carry out all that may be required to continue belonging in the forefront of biomedical research.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When setting up this Foundation, António Champalimaud gave a notable example. Those who engineered this project were capable of matching that example. The Champalimaud Foundation is thus a consolidated reality and undertaking the development of ambitious projects.

To all those who, such as the Institution which has been distinguished today, are not resigned and fight for a better World, my best thanks.