WHO Honours Four Global Health Leaders for Lifetime Contributions to Public Health

At the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus honoured four distinguished global figures with the prestigious Award for Global Health, recognizing their exceptional lifetime contributions to improving public health, combating infectious diseases, strengthening emergency response systems, and advancing humanitarian care worldwide.

The 2026 award recipients — Dr Tore Godal, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, Dr Mike Ryan, and Dr Heba Elsewedy — were celebrated during the High-Level Welcome ceremony of the World Health Assembly, held this year under the theme “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility.”

The awards highlight decades of leadership, scientific innovation, community engagement, and humanitarian service that have transformed healthcare systems and saved millions of lives across the globe.

WHO’s Global Health Awards Recognize Transformational Leadership

Established in 2019, the WHO Director-General’s Awards for Global Health honour individuals whose work has produced measurable and lasting improvements in health outcomes worldwide.

The awards recognize contributions across a wide range of areas including:

• Disease prevention

• Immunization

• Emergency response

• Humanitarian action

• Community health

• Global health security

• Scientific innovation

• Social justice

Presenting the awards, Dr Tedros praised the four laureates for their extraordinary dedication and impact on global public health.

He described them as individuals whose leadership and commitment have improved the lives of countless people and inspired future generations working toward a healthier and more equitable world.

Dr Tore Godal Recognized for Transforming Global Immunization Efforts

Dr Tore Godal received the award for his groundbreaking contributions to immunization programmes and infectious disease control.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr Godal played a pivotal role in elevating vaccines and disease prevention to the centre of the global development agenda.

He helped establish several major international health initiatives that have become pillars of global public health, including:

• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

• Roll Back Malaria

• CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations)

His work also significantly advanced efforts against neglected tropical diseases while leading WHO’s Tropical Diseases Programme.

Dr Godal contributed to expanding:

• Leprosy control programmes

• Malaria interventions

• Community-based ivermectin distribution

• Onchocerciasis (river blindness) control efforts

Public health experts credit these initiatives with protecting millions of people from preventable diseases and improving healthcare access in some of the world’s poorest communities.

WHO officials highlighted Dr Godal’s ability to translate scientific research into large-scale public health action capable of reaching vulnerable populations globally.

Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis Honoured for Disease Elimination Achievements

Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis was recognized for her lifelong commitment to immunization, disease elimination, and maternal-child health across the Americas and beyond.

Her leadership played a crucial role in the successful elimination of measles and rubella in the Americas — making it the first WHO region in the world to achieve this milestone.

The elimination of these diseases represented one of the most significant public health achievements in modern history and demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated vaccination campaigns and regional collaboration.

Dr Dahl-Regis also supported the regional Dual Elimination Initiative, which focused on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of:

• HIV

• Syphilis

Through research, advocacy, and community-based health strategies, she helped strengthen immunization systems and improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes across the region.

WHO officials praised her holistic approach to health and development, emphasizing her focus on both scientific progress and community engagement.

Her work has had a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people in the Americas and globally.

Dr Mike Ryan Recognized for Leadership During Global Health Emergencies

Dr Mike Ryan received the award for his major contributions to strengthening international preparedness and response systems for health emergencies.

One of the world’s most recognized public health emergency leaders, Dr Ryan has played a central role in coordinating responses to some of the most serious disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises of recent decades.

He was among the founders of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), which became a cornerstone of international epidemic response coordination.

During his tenure as Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Ryan helped lead operational responses to:

• SARS

• Cholera outbreaks

• Ebola epidemics

• Polio emergencies

• The COVID-19 pandemic

His leadership during major crises earned global recognition for his calm communication style, scientific clarity, and commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.

WHO praised Dr Ryan’s willingness to work in some of the world’s most difficult humanitarian environments while advancing global health security systems capable of responding rapidly to emerging threats.

Experts say his work has helped strengthen international cooperation and improve the world’s preparedness for future pandemics and health emergencies.

Dr Heba Elsewedy Honoured for Humanitarian and Burn Care Work

Dr Heba Elsewedy received the award for her humanitarian efforts and dedication to social justice through the Ahl Masr Foundation, which she founded in 2013.

The organization pioneered comprehensive approaches to:

• Trauma care

• Burn injury prevention

• Burn treatment

• Psychological rehabilitation

• Survivor reintegration

Burn injuries remain one of the most devastating but often overlooked public health challenges in many developing countries, especially among women and children.

Dr Elsewedy’s work focused not only on medical treatment but also on restoring dignity and improving the long-term quality of life for survivors.

The foundation has also played a significant humanitarian role in supporting victims affected by the Gaza conflict by providing:

• Medical assistance

• Psychological support

• Emergency humanitarian aid

WHO officials described her work as a model of compassionate, people-centred healthcare and praised her efforts in inspiring young public health advocates and humanitarian workers.

Awardees Reflect Diversity of Global Health Leadership

WHO emphasized that the four recipients represent the broad spectrum of leadership needed to improve global health outcomes in today’s complex world.

Their work spans:

• Infectious disease control

• Immunization

• Humanitarian action

• Emergency preparedness

• Scientific innovation

• Community health engagement

• Social justice advocacy

Together, their achievements demonstrate how public health progress depends on collaboration between science, policy, humanitarian action, and grassroots community work.

World Health Assembly Focuses on Shared Responsibility

This year’s World Health Assembly was held under the theme “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility.”

The theme reflects growing recognition that global health challenges such as:

• Pandemics

• Climate change

• Conflict

• Health inequities

• Humanitarian crises

• Antimicrobial resistance

require stronger international cooperation and collective action.

WHO officials stressed that the achievements of this year’s awardees offer valuable lessons for the future of global health leadership.

Inspiration for Future Generations

Dr Tedros noted that the work of the 2026 laureates serves as a source of inspiration for current and future generations working to create healthier, safer, and more equitable societies.

The awards not only recognize past achievements but also highlight the continuing importance of:

• Public service

• Scientific dedication

• Humanitarian compassion

• International solidarity

As global health systems continue to face growing pressures from emerging diseases, conflict, environmental crises, and inequality, WHO officials said the leadership demonstrated by this year’s award recipients remains more important than ever.