The WHO South-East Asia Region has announced the winners of its newly instituted Public Health Champion Awards. The Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) of Nepal, disability inclusion advocate Dr. Satendra Singh, and the LEPRA Society have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to public health.
The FCHVs were honored for their transformative work in maternal and child health, immunization, nutrition, and outbreak management, significantly reducing maternal mortality from 901 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 151 in 2021, and under-five mortality from 162 to 28 per 1,000 live births. Their low-cost, community-led model is internationally recognized as a replicable example of sustainable, gender-equitable health system strengthening.
Dr. Satendra Singh, Director-Professor at Delhi’s University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, received the individual award for advancing disability inclusion in health systems and medical education. Drawing on his lived experience, Dr. Singh has reframed disability as a human rights issue, influencing policies, curricula, and practices across India and globally.
The LEPRA Society, operating across nine states and 143 districts in India, was recognized in the institutional category for its innovative work in leprosy care, including custom-made footwear to prevent ulcers, and its expanded efforts addressing tuberculosis, HIV, lymphatic filariasis, and COVID-19.
The award, announced in June 2025, honors individuals and organizations whose work has created lasting public health impact. Fifty nominations were received from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Thailand. The champions will be felicitated at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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