A Helensburgh aid worker has been honoured as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in global health.

Melanie Ward has been given the prestigious title as a result of her work with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Melanie, the charity's chief executive, and her team distributed medical supplies worth more than $500,000 to Palestinians across just two days.

The group has also provided Palestinians with food, hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses, and around $7 million in medical supplies.

Thanks to Medical Aid for Palestinians, six teams of international health care workers have been able to give on-the-ground support to local doctors who are struggling to cope with the large amount of injured people.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Melanie said of the award: "This is a reflection of the work of our amazing volunteer medics, partners and staff - especially our dear Gaza colleagues."

 

 

The charity is one of the only international aid organisations that continues to have a physical presence in northern Gaza, the area which has endured the most damage from Israeli forces.

Melanie, a former pupil of Hermitage Academy, has been involved in humanitarian work for several years.

In 2019, while she was working as deputy country director fore the International Rescue Committee, the Advertiser reported on her work in Nigeria on a UK Aid funded project to help 62,000 children get back to school amid the armed threat of Boko Haram.

And in 2013 we lifted the lid on her three months working in Palestine as a human rights observer with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.

Melanie is also the chair of The Circle, a non-government, non-profit organisation set up to create a fairer world for women and girls founded by pop star Annie Lennox.

Melanie previously worked for Action Aid UK and Christian Aid.

Find out more about Medical Aid for Palestinians here: www.map.org.uk.