World Health Assembly Presents 2026 Public Health Prizes

The World Health Assembly presented six public health prizes on May 20, 2026, during its seventy-ninth session. The awards honor work in primary health care, disease control, and access to services for underserved populations. The President of the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly, together with representatives of the prize foundations and the WHO Director-General, presented the awards.

The laureates were selected by the WHO Executive Board in February 2026.

The Banconi Community Health Association in Mali received the Sasakawa Health Prize. The organization was recognized for strengthening community-based primary health care and expanding services in underserved areas.

A recipient from Thailand received the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize. The individual was recognized for outreach services, training, and policy work that improved access for rural, stateless, and cross-border populations.

One recipient from France was recognized for developing community-based approaches to care for older people. The second recipient, SingHealth in Singapore, was recognized for integrated strategies supporting age-friendly environments.

A recipient from Bangladesh received the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health. The individual was recognized for contributions to public health, particularly for rural, poor, and marginalized populations.

A recipient from Egypt received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion. The individual was recognized for leadership in building a prevention-oriented public health system that integrates disease control, digital tools, and equity measures. The awards mark 20 years since the passing of Dr LEE Jong-wook, WHO’s sixth Director-General.

Nearly 100 nominations were submitted for the 2026 prizes from all six WHO regions.