ThaiHealth wins WHO award for outstanding contribution
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has won the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion for 2021. The global award was conferred on Thailand for the first time by the World Health Organisation, in recognition of ThaiHealth’s “dedication to improving health conditions of the country’s 70 million population”.
ThaiHealth was selected from among eight candidates nominated by WHO member-countries around the world.
“This prestigious global recognition honours the entire ThaiHealth family, its partners and stakeholders working tirelessly to drive public awareness on health promotion and contribution to good health for all. This is not only for ThaiHealth but also for Thailand as a whole to continue improving health of our people, especially those who are vulnerable and facing health inequities,” said Dr Supreda Adulyanon, ThaiHealth CEO.
According to Dr Supreda, the award panel unanimously selected ThaiHealth due to five contributions:
1. Advocating for pro-health laws and policies, such as the Tobacco Control Act 2017 and a legal provision to restrict alcohol advertisement.
2. Shifting social norms towards a healthier and a more inclusive society by promoting alcohol-free social and cultural events, alcohol-free Buddhist Lent, and promoting work opportunities for the disabled.
3. Propagating an effective model for innovative health financing as well as providing technical support in setting up health promotion agencies in Mongolia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and South Korea.
4. Reacting quickly to emerging needs including the Covid-19 “new normal”, by launching effective public communication campaigns, initiating new projects and reorienting existing projects.
5. Boosting health indicators by promoting physical activity and campaigns to cut alcohol and tobacco consumption.
ThaiHealth will receive the award at the 74th World Health Assembly in May this year.
