UNITED NATIONS
The first United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize will be given to Namibian ophthalmologist Dr. Helena Ndume and former Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio, president of the UN General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, announced Monday.
Ndume is known for her charitable work among sufferers of eye-related illnesses in Namibia and Sampaio is known for his work to establish democracy in Portugal during his presidency between 1996 and 2006.
The United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize is presented every five years to honor outstanding achievements of one male and one female.
The prize was established last year to pay tribute to South Africa's world renowned president, Nelson Mandela.
The aim of the prize is to recognize success of those who devote their lives to the service of humanity.
The prize will be awarded at the UN Headquarters in New York during the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day on July 24.
