Global Health Champions Honored at World Health Assembly
In a ceremony held during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, six outstanding individuals and institutions from around the world were recognized for their exceptional contributions to public health. The awards, presented on May 23, 2025, highlighted the critical work being done to improve health outcomes and promote wellbeing globally.
The winners, hailing from four World Health Organization (WHO) regions – Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and Western Pacific – were honored for their innovative approaches to health development, research, and promotion. Dr. Merete Nordentoft from Denmark received the Sasakawa Health Prize for her groundbreaking work in mental health care, while Dr. Jožica Maučec Zakotnik from Slovenia was awarded the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize for her efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and ensure equal access to preventive services.
Professor Huali Wang from China and the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate of the Ministry of Health in Kuwait were joint winners of the Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion. Professor Wang was recognized for her significant contributions to healthy ageing, including the development of China’s national healthy ageing strategic plan and national dementia action plan. The Geriatric Healthcare Directorate was honored for its comprehensive approach to healthy ageing, which includes a national health strategy for older adults and innovative mobile vaccination campaigns.
Professor Helen Rees from South Africa received the Dr. LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health for her outstanding contributions to public health, including her work on HIV prevention and treatment. Dr. Majed Zemni from Tunisia was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion for his extensive contributions to health promotion, particularly in the areas of forensic medicine and patients’ rights.
The awards ceremony was attended by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and high-level representatives of the foundations that established the prizes. The winners were selected from a pool of nominees submitted by national health administrations and former prize recipients. As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted, these awards recognize not only the achievements of the winners but also serve as a call to action for continued innovation and collaboration in the pursuit of better health for all.
In their acceptance speeches, the winners emphasized the importance of community involvement, patient-centered care, and multisectoral engagement in achieving health security and promoting a healthier future for all. As Professor Huali Wang said, "This award is not just a recognition of our past work but a call to action for future endeavors – together, we can make a difference in the lives of many." Dr. Majed Zemni added, "Health is a common denominator for all humanity, regardless of borders, races, or policies – we must all strive to establish health security and a healthier future for all."
These awards serve as a testament to the power of dedication, innovation, and collaboration in improving public health outcomes worldwide. As the global health community continues to navigate the complexities of healthcare, these champions of public health inspire us to strive for a future where health is a fundamental human right, accessible to all.
