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On 14 Dec, Mr Gilles Garachon, the French Ambassador to Thailand, arrived at Mae Sot in Thailand to present France’s highest award, l'Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur, to Professor François Nosten, Head of MORU’s Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU). The award is in recognition of Professsor Nosten's work over three decades fighting malaria.

Guests representing many SMRU partners who contributed to this award attended the ceremony including: Eh Ka Lu Shwe Oo from the Karen Department Health and Welfare (KDHW), Dr Cynthia Maung from the Mae Tao Clinic, Maw Ronnatrai, the former director of Mae Sot Hospital, Maw Jirapong Authaisin from the Mae Ra Mat Hospital, and representatives from Thai Public Health departments. Nick White and Nick Day represented MORU and many SMRU colleagues also attended.

The festivities later moved to the SMRU office with three generations of staff attending, and many taking turns to say how they enjoyed working with François over the years.

Please join us in giving your heartiest congratulations to François and the SMRU team for this well-deserved honour.

- With thanks to Dr Rose McGready for text and to Nick Day, Stephane Ribrault, Jordi Landier and Suphak Nosten for photos

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