WHO Honours Four Health Icons Transforming Global Disease Response Worldwide
Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization has honoured four prominent global health leaders for their lifetime contributions to disease control, emergency response, immunisation and humanitarian healthcare during the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva.
The prestigious Director-General’s Award for Global Health was presented on Monday under the assembly’s theme, “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the recipients as exceptional figures whose work had transformed global public health systems.
“I am honoured to present the Global Health Leaders Awards to four individuals who have made outstanding lifetime contributions to global health,” Tedros said.
Among the awardees was infectious disease expert Tore Godal, recognised for pioneering vaccine development initiatives and epidemic preparedness programmes.
Godal played major roles in establishing global health partnerships including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Roll Back Malaria.
Public health physician Merceline Dahl-Regis was also honoured for leading immunisation campaigns that helped eliminate measles and rubella across the Americas.
WHO additionally recognised emergency response specialist Mike Ryan for strengthening global outbreak detection systems and leading responses to SARS, Ebola, cholera, polio and COVID-19 outbreaks.
Humanitarian advocate Heba Elsewedy received the award for supporting burn victims and conflict survivors through the Ahl Masr Foundation.
Her organisation has provided trauma care, psychological support and humanitarian assistance to communities affected by wars and disasters, including victims of the Gaza conflict.
The awards ceremony attracted senior health officials, policymakers and global development leaders from multiple countries.
WHO said the recognition highlights the importance of sustained investment in public health leadership, epidemic preparedness and humanitarian response systems worldwide.
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