Biocon recognised for outstanding contribution to public health by WHO – India
Biocon Foundation, SEWA Rural; Community Health Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore; and Dr Vinod K. Paul, AIIMS were awarded by WHO for their contribution to public health at the ‘Public Health Champion Award 2015’. It is a new initiative by WHO-India to recognise and encourage the efforts of individuals and institutions who have made an outstanding contribution to public health through advocacy, impactful health policies, strategies and programs thus leading to substantial improvement in health outcomes in India. In the category of innovation, the awardees were Narayana Health and Ekjut.
The awards, presented at a national consultation held to commemorate the World Health Day 2015, comprise two categories:
Sustained contribution to the field of public health
Innovation
Biocon Foundation has been recognised for its integrated healthcare initiatives through which it is constantly engaged in improving the quality of life of several thousand communities in India.
Rani Desai, Head of Biocon Foundation, received the award from Dr Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India, at a function held in New Delhi. Expressing her delight at receiving the award, Desai said, “The Foundation has been recognised for its innovative healthcare models of preventive and primary health services through which we are engaged in creating a sustainable health ecosystem. Through our primary health clinics we aim to enable access to affordable healthcare to rural and urban marginalised communities.”
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon, said, “This is indeed a great recognition of Biocon Foundation’s tireless work in public health which brings great pride to everyone at Biocon.”
Highlighting the importance of the public health champions awards, Dr Menabde said, “Public health is a challenging field and these awards are our way of saying thank you to the talented individuals and organisations that have dedicated themselves to this field. These awards are an attempt to recognise and honour the best in this field and also to encourage others to emulate them.”