Geneva, 22 May 2014 (PAHO/WHO) — A Dominican organization that fights
leprosy and a Costa Rican medical research institute were honored today during
the annual presentation of health awards at the 67th World Health
Assembly.
From the
Dominican Republic, the Leprosy Control Foundation, Inc./ Hubert Bogaert
Institute of Dermatology and Skin Surgery was awarded the Sasakawa Health
Prize, which includes a monetary award of US$40,000 that will be used to expand
a program to reduce treatment gaps for children affected by leprosy.
The National
Institute for Health Research (INISA) of the University of Costa Rica was
presented the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize, which carries a
monetary award of US$20,000, in recognition of its work in medical research in
genetics and infectious diseases and early diagnosis of cancer, among other
areas.
Representatives
of both organizations were honored in a special session of the Assembly led by
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan and Minister of
Public Health of Cuba Roberto Morales Ojeda, President of this year's Assembly.
Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
also participated in the ceremony along with delegations from both countries.
Leprosy Control Foundation of the Dominican Republic
The Sasakawa
Health Prize went to the Leprosy Control Foundation, Inc./ Hubert Bogaert
Institute of Dermatology and Skin Surgery, established in 1963. It works toward
the elimination of leprosy and the main forms of dermatosis in the Dominican
Republic and provides integrated specialized care for dermatological and
sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. The Institute has developed
ethical programs in the areas of research, education, screening, care and
treatment of diseases, as well as primary care strategies for dermatology in
rural and urban areas. Its innovative approach to the treatment of leprosy has
greatly contributed to the reduction of the rates of incidence of leprosy.
During its 50 years of existence, the Institute has treated over 13 000
patients, of whom more than 9 000 are fully cured, thanks to early case
detection, suitable treatment, including multidrug therapy, as recommended by
WHO, and educational campaigns. Decentralized community participation has
reduced the cost of patient care and promoted local decision-making and the
empowerment of caregivers.
The Institute
proposes to use the prize money to fund a project entitled "Abrazo Solidario"
(Embrace of Solidarity), whose main purpose is to improve and expand the
existing paediatric programme to extend coverage to children affected by other
skin diseases. The project aims to reduce treatment gaps for affected children,
including those related to medicines supply, and provide protective clothing
against ultraviolet rays, as well as psychological support to patients and
their families and friends.
The Sasakawa
Health Prize is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions,
or a nongovernmental organization or organizations having accomplished
outstanding innovative work in health development, such as the promotion of
given health programmes or notable advances in primary health care, in order to
encourage the further development of such work. The prize was established in
1984 at the initiative of and with funds provided by Mr. Ryoichi, Chairman of
the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation and President of the Sasakawa
Memorial Health Foundation.
National Institute for Health
Research, University of Costa Rica
The United
Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize went to the National Institute for Health
Research (INISA), which is attached to the faculties of Pharmacy, Medicine, Microbiology
and Odontology at the University of Costa Rica. Its mission is to help to
promote and maintain human health through scientific research, education and
outreach in a comprehensive and ethical framework. The Institute was created in
1975 as a multidisciplinary academic unit dedicated to scientific research in
the fields of individual and collective ageing, genetic and infectious
diseases, early detection and diagnosis of gastric cancer, which has a high
prevalence in Costa Rica, and genotoxic damage from occupational exposure to
pesticides. It has achieved a notable reduction in infant mortality thanks to
the discovery of a plasmid for ampicillin-resistant strains of Shigella
dysenteriae and its transmission to Escherichia coli, and the creation of milk
banks in urban and rural areas. It has also designed strategic communication
initiatives to improve the eating habits of Costa Ricans.
The United
Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize is awarded to a person or persons, an
institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations
having made an outstanding contribution to health development.
