Winners of the public health prizes 2018
Public health prizes reward and recognize major achievements, with proven impact for health gains in countries, for example, newborn and maternal health in India, palliative care for children with terminal illnesses in Costa Rica, drug safety in the Republic of Korea, support for cancer patients in Algeria, and innovative research for people with diabetes in Malaysia.
The prizes are established either in the name of eminent health professionals and international figures or by prominent foundations that commit to support international and global public health innovation and success. Every year, national health administrations and former prize recipients submit nominations. The review of the nominations is made by specialized selection panels established by each of the foundations awarding a prize. The WHO Executive Board, in its January session, designates the winners based on recommendations made by the selection panels.
This year’s winners were presented with their awards on Friday, 25 May 2018 during the plenary meeting of the Seventy-first World Health Assembly.
Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize
The Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize is awarded to a person or persons globally recognized for their service in the field of family health. The 2018 prize of US$20 000 has been awarded to Professor Vinod Kumar Paul from India – for his remarkable work as a researcher, clinicians, educator and advocate in the area of newborn and maternal health, especially in developing countries.
The Sasakawa Health Prize
The 2018 Sasakawa Health Prize of US$30 000 for outstanding innovative work in health development, has been awarded to Fundación Pro Unidad de Cuidado Paliativo (Pro Palliative Care Unit Foundation) from Costa Rica – a non-profit organization recognized for its outstanding work to protect the rights of children and adolescents with terminal illnesses.
United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize
The 2018 United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize for an exceptional contribution to health development has been awarded to The Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management (KIDS) from the Republic of Korea. KIDS works relentlessly improving health in the country through prevention and recognition of drug-related issues, supporting evidence-based decisions on drug-safety, disseminating safety information and increasing public awareness.
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion
The 2018 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize was awarded to Association El Badr, Association d’aides aux malades atteints de cancer (the El Badr Association, Cancer Patient Association) from Algeria. This prize is provided by the State of Kuwait Health Promotion Foundation to individuals, institutions or organization having made outstanding research accomplishments in the areas of elderly health care and health promotion. The El Badr Association is recognized as an inspiring example of the involvement of civil society in social and humanitarian actions.
The Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health
The 2018 Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health has been awarded to Dr Nazni Wasi Ahmad from Malaysia. She is recognized for her contribution to innovative research in forensic entomology, in particular her work to facilitate the healing of wounds and foot ulcers caused by diabetes. Dr Ahmad developed new therapeutic methods that are effective, affordable, simple and available at any time and in any health care setting. Including primary health care facilities. This decreases the burden on the health care system for treating diabatic ulcers.
