Dutch scientist wins top American award, gives prize to Netherlands pro-choice initiative

Utrecht professor Olle ten Cate won the prestigious John P. Hubbard Award in the United States. He decided to donate the 10 thousand dollars in prize money to departing Development Minister Lilianne Ploumen's pro-choice fund She Decides, ANP reports.

Ploumen established the fund after the new United States government decided to stop funding for family planning in developing countries. She Decides aims to raise political support and funding for UN organizations and other non-government organizations that work to give millions of women and girls in developing countries access to sex education, birth control, obstetric care, HIV testing and treatment and safe abortions.

"First of all, there is much need for this support. But indirectly, the American money is returning to destinations it was taken away from", Ten Cate commented on his decision. Ten Cate is a Professor of Medical Education. He received the American award for devising a method of establishing what basic capabilities medical students and specialists in training must have, according to ANP.