Awards

SEVENTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY A73/INF./1 Provisional agenda item 7 8 May 2020 Awards 1. At its 146th session, in February 2020, the Executive Board adopted a number of decisions awarding prizes to individuals or entities in recognition of their outstanding contributions to public health development.1 2. An award ceremony for the following six prizes is scheduled to take place during the plenary meeting of the Seventy-third World Health Assembly to be held in the afternoon of Wednesday, 20 May 2020: the Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize will be presented to Dr Errol R. Alden (United States of America); the Sasakawa Health Prize will be presented to Geo-RIS (Sistema Geoespacial de las Redes Integradas de Salud, (Geospacial System of Integrated Health Networks)), Dirección General de Aseguramiento e Intercambio Prestacional del Ministerio de Salud (Peru); the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize will be presented to Ms Xi Jin (China); the His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion will be presented to Professor Gunhild Waldemar (Denmark); the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health will be presented to Dr João Aprigio Guerra de Almeida (Brazil) and The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium (United Republic of Tanzania); and the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion will be presented to the Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network (Spain) and Professor Dame Sally Davies (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). 3. Many of the prizes have been established by, or set up in memory of, an eminent health personality or an individual with a legacy in the field of health. The call for nominations of candidates for each prize is sent out each year after closure of the Health Assembly session, and nominations can be made by national health administrations of a Member State of WHO and by any former recipient of the prizes. The recipients of the prizes are designated by the Executive Board during its first annual session, on the basis of recommendations made by the selection panel for each prize. 1 See decisions EB146(24), EB146(25), EB146(26), EB146(27), EB146(28) and EB146(29) (2020). A73/INF./1 2 4. Over the years, the prizes have been awarded to a wide range of recipients: well-known scientists and researchers; other dedicated individuals or entities who have greatly contributed through their work to the advancement of public health; and to institutions caring for the health of local communities. With respect to the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion, this year marks the inaugural bestowing of the award. 5. Further information on the prizes and on the 2020 recipients is provided in Annex 1 to the present document.1 6. At its meeting on 15 October 2019, during the sixty-sixth session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee decided to revise the statutes of the Foundation. In accordance with Article 8 of the Statutes of the Foundation, the revision is transmitted to the Health Assembly for information (see Annex 2). 7. At its meeting on 3 February 2020, the Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Selection Panel decided to revise the Statutes of the Foundation. In accordance with Article 8 of the Statutes of the Foundation, the revision is transmitted to the Health Assembly for information (see Annex 3). 1 See also the information on awards on the WHO website (http://www.who.int/governance/awards, accessed 6 April 2020). A73/INF./1 3 ANNEX 1 PRIZES AWARDED IN 2020 1. Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize The Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize is awarded to a person or persons globally recognized for his, her or their service in the field of family health. The Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Selection Panel met on 3 February 2020 to consider the nominations of the five candidates, together with the Administrator’s technical comments on the candidatures. The 2020 laureate of the prize is Dr Errol R. Alden (United States of America). Dr Alden is a pioneer, focused on disease prevention and the promotion of child health and development. Throughout his career as a clinician, he has been devoted to advancing the health and well-being of children in developing countries around the world. He developed and implemented programmes such as the Neonatal Resuscitation Program and Helping Babies Breathe. These programmes have trained thousands of health care professionals and have helped to save the lives of millions of children worldwide. In 1999, Dr Alden received the World Leader in Pediatrics award from the International Society of Tropical Pediatrics, in recognition of his contribution to the science of paediatrics and his service to the cause of children. As President of the International Pediatric Association, Dr Alden is currently addressing two major issues affecting children globally: immunization hesitancy and displacement of children as a result of disasters. Vaccine hesitancy has made the resurgence of many diseases possible. Dr Alden has led and supported the Association’s international efforts on vaccination and their endeavours to educate vaccination-hesitant parents, particularly those influenced by false data. By continually focusing on the science and working with individuals dealing with people with autism, the Association has been able to focus on the actual causes of autism and the safety of vaccines. 2. Sasakawa Health Prize The Sasakawa Health Prize is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations having accomplished outstanding innovative work in health development. Such work includes the promotion of given health programmes or notable advances in primary health care. The 2020 laureate of the prize is Geo-RIS (Sistema Geoespacial de las Redes Integradas de Salud, (Geospacial System of Integrated Health Networks)), Dirección General de Aseguramiento e Intercambio Prestacional del Ministerio de Salud (Peru). Geo-RIS, under the leadership of Dr Gelberth John Stamp, was designed in 2018 to promote the reorganization of health services for primary health care and to provide a computer tool to automate processing of demographic and geo-referenced information. The programme has provided health sector managers with information on health indicators relevant to their geographical region and enhanced public health decision-making. The e-platform integrates various publicly available data sources, such as population size and density, health indicators, availability of human resources, service centres and characteristics of health service institutions. A73/INF./1 Annex 1 4 3. United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize The United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to health development. The 2020 laureate of the prize is Ms Xi Jin (China). Ms Jin is an expert in women’s and children’s health. Her research has been translated into national policies that has made an impact in all the regions of China. She has had a catalytic leadership role in national programmatic efforts to advance the health and development of women and children, particularly in establishing the National Centre for Women and Children’s Health. Her efforts have contributed to increased efficiency and management of health systems, within an overall framework of primary health care. A number of relevant training packages have been developed under Ms Jin’s leadership. She has stimulated the generation of a significant body of research related to maternal and child health; of note is the formulation of a research framework on maternal and child health institutional standards, all within a primary health care-focused system. 4. Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health The Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, a governmental or nongovernmental organization or organizations, who have made an outstanding contribution to public health. There are two laureates of the 2020 prize: Dr João Aprigio Guerra de Almeida (Brazil) and The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium (United Republic of Tanzania). As The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium is not a natural person or legal entity, the Prize will be formally awarded to Dr Julie Makani, in her capacity as representative of The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium. Dr João Aprigio Guerra de Almeida coordinates the Brazilian Network of Human Milk Banks and has been involved in promoting breastfeeding for decades in Brazil and many other countries, contributing efficiently to this important global public health issue. Since 1981, he has championed social mobilization to promote the use of donated human milk for infants clinically unable to be breastfed directly by their mothers. He is considered the driving force behind the largest and most complex network of human milk banks in the world, namely the Brazilian Network of Human Milk Banks, which has 224 human milk banks and 215 collection centres for human milk in operation throughout the country. The positive impact on maternal and child health made by the Brazilian Network of Human Milk Banks has led to the establishment of the Global Network of Human Milk Banks, whose membership comprises most Latin American nations as well as Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Portugal and Spain. In recognition of the leadership of Dr Guerra de Almeida, in 2018 the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs awarded him with the rank of Commander, a title granted to individuals who stand out for their social, economic or political influence. The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium provides an academic and scientific environment with experience and expertise in cross-cutting skills and knowledge that serves as a platform for the professional development of clinicians and scientists who are working to combat sickle cell disease. Dr Julie Makani is the Principal Investigator for the Sickle Cell Disease programme at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. The Sickle Cell Disease programme has demonstrated high capacity in translating research into innovative health policies and clinical practices, and has been an enabling force for developing health care in resource-limited settings. This programme has also illustrated that effective Annex 1 A73/INF./1 5 global partnerships can build a critical mass of individuals and lead to significant advances in health and biomedical science in the area of public and family health. The Sickle Cell Disease programme works closely with patient and advocacy groups including the Sickle Cell Disease Patients Community, Sickle Cell Foundation of Tanzania, Sickle Cell Youth Foundation and the Tanzania Sickle Cell Disease Alliance. 5. His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion The His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to research in the areas of health care for the elderly and in health promotion. The 2020 laureate of the prize is Professor Gunhild Waldemar (Denmark). Professor Waldemar is a certified neurologist and a well-established researcher. Throughout her career, she has contributed substantially to research in health care for older adults, including in the areas of dementia diagnosis, inappropriate use of opioids and antipsychotics in older adults with dementia, the effect of early psychosocial counselling and support and the effect of exercise in people diagnosed with Alzheimer disease. She has actively contributed to the advancement of health care and quality of life of people with dementia through the development and implementation of different programmes and policy related activities. For example, in 2007 she established the Danish Dementia Research Centre, which she chairs. Professor Waldemar has supported the development of the dementia national action plans and has headed the development and launch of three successful initiatives: (i) a new low-cost model for dementia-friendly hospitals; (ii) a “national tool-box” for use by primary care staff when counselling and teaching patients and their caregivers about dementia; and (iii) a new tool for the early identification of cognitive impairment and dementia for primary care physicians. 6. Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion The Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, a governmental or nongovernmental organization or organizations, who or which has/have made a significant contribution to health promotion. There are two laureates of the 2020 prize: The Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network (Spain) and Professor Dame Sally Davies (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). As the Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network is not a natural person or a legal entity, the award will be formally awarded to the Network’s coordinating organization, the Asociación Gitana UNGA. The Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network comprises 21 Sinti and Roma associations that liaise with various governmental agencies in Spain with the objective of developing health promotion interventions, fostering social inclusion and preserving Roma identity. The Network serves as a useful tool to facilitate access to health and social services and to promote health equity in the Roma population. Other areas of work include training in intercultural competence for health professionals (including health care and social workers) to improve practice and increase awareness of the Roma population. In addition, the Network aims at increasing awareness about health issues that affect the Roma population and to address these issues through cooperative activities that improve the trust between Roma communities and health administrations and services. The participants of the Network exchange experiences and discuss their public health approaches and their shared vision for health. A73/INF./1 Annex 1 6 Professor Dame Sally Davies has until recently been the Chief Medical Officer of the United Kingdom and a key advocate for health promotion in the United Kingdom and globally. Dame Sally’s impact on health promotion has been profound. At the heart of her efforts lies a desire to improve the quality of the public’s health regardless of their financial means or location, tackling the root causes of illness through education, research and preventive action. She was pivotal in launching noncommunicable disease risk prevention strategies, and legal and fiscal measures. These include a nationwide sugar levy, standardized tobacco packaging, a smoking ban in cars with children as well as cross-governmental programmes to ensure access to sports and exercise facilities. She is a global leader in combating antimicrobial resistance. At the request of the United Nations Secretary General, she co-convened the United Nations Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance and has since been providing solutions and supporting reform, governance and accountability on a global scale. A73/INF./1 7 ANNEX 2 AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTES OF THE DR A.T. SHOUSHA FOUNDATION 1 Previous Amended Article 1 A Committee styled the “Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee” shall be formed and shall be composed of the following members: The Chairman and Vice- Chairmen of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean as such, and the Chairman of the Regional Committee Technical Discussions. …. Article 1 A Committee styled the “Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee” shall be formed and shall be composed of the following members: The Chairman and Vice- Chairmen of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean as such, and the Chairman of the Regional Committee Technical Discussions officers of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, namely the Chair and two Vice- Chairs. … Article 2 The Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee shall, in accordance with the present Statutes, propose to the Executive Board the award of the prize to be known as the “Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize”, to be given to a person having made the most significant contribution to any health problem in the geographical area in which Dr A.T. Shousha served the World Health Organization. … Article 2 The Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee shall, in accordance with the present Statutes, propose to the Executive Board the award of the prize to be known as the “Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize”, to be given to a person or institution, including nongovernmental organizations, having made the most significant contribution to any health problem in the geographical area in which Dr A.T. Shousha served the World Health Organization. … Article 3 … (b) be used by the Foundation Committee for the granting of a fellowship, to be known as the “Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Fellowship”, to a person, belonging to the health professions, from the geographical area referred to in Article 2, in view of obtaining a postgraduate diploma or a master in public health, or … Article 3 … (b) be used by the Foundation Committee for the granting of a fellowship, to be known as the “Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Fellowship”, to a person, belonging to the health professions, from the geographical area referred to in Article 2, in view of obtaining a postgraduate diploma or a master in public health from an accredited institution within the geographical area referred to in Article 2, or … Article 5 … No condition is made as to the age, sex, profession or nationality of the candidate proposed. Article 5 … No condition is made as to the age, sex, profession or nationality of the candidate proposed. 1 Additions are shown in bold and italics; deletions are in strikethrough. A73/INF./1 Annex 2 8 Previous Amended Article 5 bis … No condition is made as to the age, sex, profession or nationality of the candidate proposed. … Article 5 bis … No condition is made as to the age, sex, profession or nationality of the candidate proposed. … Article 6 bis Current and former members of the WHO Secretariat are not eligible to receive the Prize, nor are deceased persons eligible. Candidates put forward in past years, but not selected, may be nominated again for the Prize. The Prize will be awarded to the candidates thought worthy with no condition made to their age, sex, profession or nationality. The Fellowship will be awarded to candidates under the age of 35 years thought worthy with no condition made to their sex, profession or nationality. Candidates must be nominated by the national health administration of a country of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. Article 7 … The quorum required to make such a recommendation shall be at least three members of the Foundation Committee, including the Chairman of the Regional Committee or a Vice Chairman acting for the Chairman at that Regional Committee. … Article 7 … The quorum required to make such a recommendation shall be at least three all members of the Foundation Committee, including the Chairman of the Regional Committee or a Vice Chairman acting for the Chairman at that Regional Committee. … A73/INF./1 9 ANNEX 3 AMENDMENT TO THE STATUTES OF THE IHSAN DOĞRAMACI FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION1 Previous Amended Article 5 Proposal and selection of candidates for the Prize Any national health administration, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Bureau of the International Children’s Center (Ankara), as well as any former recipient of the Prize, may put forward the name of a person for the Prize. Proposals will be made to the Foundation Selection Panel. The Executive Board of the World Health Organization shall determine the recipients of the Prize on the proposal of the Foundation Selection Panel. The recipients of the Prize will be encouraged to meet regularly (normally every two or three years) to discuss ways and means of promoting family health in their communities and beyond and to submit their recommendations to the World Health Organization’s Secretariat and to the International Children’s Center (Ankara). These meetings will be convened and coordinated by the International Children’s Center (Ankara). Article 5 Proposal and selection of candidates for the Prize Any national health administration, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Bureau of the International Children’s Center (Ankara), as well as any former recipient of the Prize, may put forward the name of a person for the Prize. Proposals will be made to the Foundation Selection Panel. The Executive Board of the World Health Organization shall determine the recipients of the Prize on the proposal of the Foundation Selection Panel. The recipients of the Prize will be encouraged to meet regularly (normally every two or three years) to discuss ways and means of promoting family health in their communities and beyond and to submit their recommendations to the World Health Organization’s Secretariat and to the International Children’s Center (Ankara). These meetings will be convened and coordinated by the International Children’s Center (Ankara). = = = 1 Deletions are shown in strikethrough.