Muscat: Oman's Dr Bader al Rawahi, Dr Ahmed al Wahaibi and Dr Jamila al Abri bagged WHO awards presented to persons and institutions from around the world for their outstanding contributions to public health.
The eight laureates inlcuding 3 Omanis have been selected to celebrate their unique role and contribution for public health in their countries and globally. They come from four WHO Regions: Africa, the Eastern-Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific.
Dr Al Rawahi of the Ministry of Health won Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health 2024 for his work in immunisation. For example, during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, he ensured that Covid-19 vaccines were available to everyone in Oman, regardless of their registration status, achieving coverage of 94 per cent, the World Health Organizaion said in its statement.
Dr Al Wahaibi of MoH and Chinese Geriatrics Society shared His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber al Sabah Prize for research in healthcare for the elderly and in health promotion. Dr Al Wahaibi, a family physician, has made an important contribution to integrating high-quality care of older people within primary healthcare in Oman. He has contributed to the development of a national programme for older persons that provides screening, assessment and early interventions as part of primary healthcare for people aged 60 years and older.
Dr Jamila Taiseer Yasser Al Abri, a renowned obstetrician-gynaecologist, won Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize.
Dr Al Abri has demonstrated significant leadership in teaching and managing national health programmes, including on breast cancer, mental health and autism spectrum disorders, and other family health issues. She has played an important role in contributing to the strategic plans for women’s and children’s health as part of Oman’s long-term vision, Health Vision 2050. Dr Al Abri has helped to guide the work of various organisations and their technical committees as an adviser, for the region and beyond. This has included leading a technical assistance project to enhance social protection for healthcare of women in Arab States, which was implemented in six countries, and collaborating with WHO on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Eight winners were awarded by the 77th World Health Assembly President, Dr Edwin Dikoloti of Botswana, in the presence of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
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