The Core Competence Award for Business Excellence honours global pioneers in the fight against HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
BBC World Service Trust Director Stephen King received the award from Bill Roedy, Vice Chairman of MTV Networks International, at a gala ceremony in New York on Monday, 9 June 2008. The event was attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers, and UN Special Envoy to Stop TB, Jorge Sampaio.
We won the award for our popular and innovative multi-media HIVand AIDS awareness campaigns in India.
Their key elements were the television programmes Jasoos Vijay and Haath Se Haath Milaa, produced in partnership with India's government-run broadcaster Doordarshan and a series of innovative public service advertisements.
Partnership is at the heart of this award, along with integrity, commitment and passion
Stephen King, BBC World Service Trust Director
Jasoos Vijay was a detective-drama featuring Detective Vijay who solves crimes while dispelling myths and educating about HIV and AIDS.
Haath Se Haath Milaa, a weekly reality TV show, paired young activists with Bollywood stars to raise awareness about HIV and help fight stigma.
Stephen King said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this award for our work in India on HIV and AIDS for a multi-media campaign that reached more than 250 million people. The GBC accolade is the world's most prestigious prize for business excellence with a real impact on improving people's lives around the world.
"Partnership is at the heart of this award: partnerships with the Indian National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), the national broadcaster Doordarshan, and with Indian colleagues to create an entertaining, innovative campaign to get people talking about sex to inform and save lives. Partnership also as part of the GBC coalition - more than 220 companies united to keep the fight against HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria a global priority. I'd especially like to thank BBC World Service Trust colleagues in India for their integrity, commitment and passion, which has reaped such amazing results."