Christopher Bates, Director of HHS’ Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, Receives Mustard Seed Award for Public-Private Partnership with African-born Americans

Christopher Bates, Director of HHS’ Office of HIV/AIDS Policy,
 Receives Mustard Seed Award for Public-Private Partnership with
African-born Americans

Washington, DC—Christopher Bates, Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP) was recognized for his HIV/AIDS work with African-born Americans to develop a healthy and sustainable community at the first Mustard Seed Award Banquet, hosted by the Continental African Community, USA, Inc. on July 24.

The Mustard Seed Awards Program brings together public servants, elected officials and constituents in appreciation of excellence in public stewardship and philanthropic services. The Award highlights the multi-disciplinary presence and contributions of the Continental African community in the U.S. and the significance of public private collaborations.

Mr. Bates is receiving this award for his work in September 2008 at the National African HIV/AIDS Initiative Conference, when, according to the Mustard Seed Award Committee, Mr. Bates “enabled a national coalition of indigenous African service providers to showcase, share and replicate best practices in addressing HIV/AIDS in the African community on a national platform - the first [conference] of its kind in the history of America”.

Mr. Bates has spent more than 20 years working on public health and HIV/AIDS issues, serving most recently as the Director of HHS’ OHAP and in this role advising the Assistant Secretary for Health on department-wide topics such as HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, care and treatment, and research.

“I am honored to be the recipient of this award and accept it on behalf of HHS and the national public health community I have been working with — they are the reason I’m so lucky to be receiving this award — thank you”, said Mr. Bates.