Anna Maria Vella, Clinical Chair at Foundation for Social Welfare Services’ (FSWS) Sedqa, has been presented with the 2024 Woman of Courage Award by the US Embassy.

The announcement was made on Friday (today), International Women’s Day.

The embassy stated that the annual award honours women who demonstrate “exceptional strength, leadership, and courage” in improving their communities by advocating for the rights and dignity of others.

From left: Minister for Inclusion and Social Well-being Julia Farrugia Portelli, US Ambassador to Malta Constance J. Milstein, First Lady Miriam Vella, and Anna Maria Vella / Facebook

Aside from her role at Sedqa, Dr Vella is also Co-Founder of Dar Hosea, an institution that offers support and assistance to vulnerable women who are exploited into prostitution.

She is a medical doctor and over the years has worked with women caught up in prostitution and are using illicit drugs. In fact, her Doctor of Philosophy research focused on the aforementioned themes.

Dr Vella is also a Visiting Lecturer at University of Malta, lecturing on subjects such as substance misuse, bioethics, and psychiatry, among other areas.

US Ambassador to Malta Constance J. Milstein, Minister for Inclusion and Social Well-being Julia Farrugia Portelli and First Lady Miriam Vella accompanied Dr Vella as she received the award.