The former coordinator of the 'task force' for vaccination against Covid-19, Vice Admiral Gouveia e Melo, has been elected Personality of the Year by the Association of Foreign Press in Portugal (AIEP).
In a statement, the AIEP explained that the 'Personality of the Year Award' aims to distinguish the person or institution that most contributed to promoting the image of Portugal abroad during the year. The choice is made through an internal election among journalists. Since 2012, the correspondents' award has been renamed 'Personality of the Year Award - Martha de la Cal', a tribute to the American journalist (1927-2011) who worked for several years in Portugal for Time magazine, and who was one of the founders of the AIEP 43 years ago.
“The success of Portugal's vaccination strategy was news around the world. Our correspondents dedicated many reports to the subject, which aroused enormous interest abroad. Therefore, the choice of Vice Admiral Gouveia e Melo did not take long to win the support of the majority of professionals”, explains journalist Giuliana Miranda, president of the AIEP.
Foreign correspondents also emphasise the prominent role of the coordinator of the 'task force' in reaching the mark of almost 89% of the immunized population in the country.
Reacting to his award by the international press, the vice-admiral said, “I appreciate the award that represents a national effort where everyone contributed”.
The AIEP, currently consisting of 54 international journalists from nearly 20 countries, has been awarding Personality of the Year since 1990. In previous editions, the award has been given to businessmen, politicians, artists, sportsmen and institutions, such as pianist Maria João Pires, writer José Saramago, fado singer Mariza, Capitães de Abril, former President of the Republic Mário Soares, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and UN Secretary General António Guterres.
In 2020, the award was given to businessman José Neves, founder of Farfetch, who stood out for his contribution to Portuguese society by creating a foundation for education.
Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/
