Winners of the 2021 Task Force Awards

This year 19 organizations received UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs awards. Winners were announced by the WHO Deputy Director-General on 22 September 2021 during the annual Friends of the Task Force meeting during the UN General Assembly.

In presenting the awards, the WHO Deputy Director-General said, ‘We congratulate all those awarded today. We look forward to hearing progress on their work in the months ahead. We hope that these awards encourage even greater action both by those awarded and everyone else in responding the challenge of the NCD-related SDGs’

Awards were made in three categories: (i) ministries of health (or government agency under a ministry of health); (ii) ministries (or government agencies) beyond health; and (iii) non-state actors (non-governmental organization, academic institutions and philanthropy).

Ministries of health (or government agency under a ministry of health)

• The Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran for demonstrating excellence in delivering mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Health Service Executive, Republic of Ireland for developing structured illness and preventive care in general practice to reduce morbidity and mortality from NCDs that has been developed over the last 6 years and rolled out during the pandemic.
• Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Republic of Nauru for driving forward action to reduce NCD risk factors and strengthening the management of NCDs and mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand for its outstanding contribution to reduce sugar consumption in Thailand by leading a multisectoral action to tax sugar sweetened beverages and setting an example on future pro-health taxes.
• Public Health England for their exemplary work in introducing and sharing experience in working with industry to reformulate food and drink with lower levels of salt, sugar and calories.
• Gulf Health Council for championing multisectoral action to the prevention and control of NCDs across 6 Gulf countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

Ministries (or government agencies) beyond health

• National Assembly of  Armenia for enacting a landmark tobacco control law, which will protect Armenian population from tobacco-related harm.
• Parliament of Georgia in recognition of their outstanding efforts to strengthen national tobacco control legislation and reduce the heavy burden of tobacco-attributable NCDs in Georgia.
• Ministry of Finance and Planning, Cabo Verde in recognition of their efforts in strengthening tobacco tax policy which contribute to multisectoral action on prevention and control of NCDs.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority, India for the India@75: Freedom from Trans-fats by 2022 initiative, collaborating with food industry associations.
• Food and Drug Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their role in preventing NCDs and promoting public health by improving the nutritional value of food, including through the multisectoral Healthy Food Strategy.
• Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation for raising awareness on NCDs among the general population, including during COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-state actors (non-governmental organization, academic institutions and philanthropy)

• Kamili Organisation, Kenya for their achievements in providing community mental health care services and commitment to battling the stigma associated with mental health.
• Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait for their work with the Ministry of Health to develop a national diabetes register and their contribution in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.
• The National Cancer Council Malaysia for their outstanding work to support cancer patients and survivors.
• Sudanese Childhood Diabetes Association for the exceptional work to support children with diabetes and their families.
• Movendi International, Sweden in recognition of their advocacy work to protect people from harmful use of alcohol.
• City Cancer Challenge Foundation, Switzerland for driving concrete action to strengthen and multiply quality health services, workforce and infrastructure, thus advancing access to NCDs and cancer treatment at city, regional and national levels.
• Project HOPE, USA for engaging vulnerable youth through community-based health programming, social and mass media campaigns, and advocacy with national and local leaders in the health and education sectors, including their virtual program focused on prevention of NCDs.

Notes

Winners are selected on the basis of demonstrative commitment to multisectoral action in preventing and controlling the NCD-related SDGs (at local, national, regional or international level) with particular weight given to nominations that demonstrated evidence of one or more of the following: (i) new and innovative activities; (ii) acting as an exemplar for others; (iii) overcoming significant obstacles; (iv) demonstrating outstanding leadership; and (v) mobilizing resources, knowledge or expertise.

This year, nominations were specifically encouraged for organizations working with children and youth groups as well as those working with minority communities. Nominations were also encouraged that highlighted action maintaining focus on the NCD-related SDGs as part of COVID-19 responses.

2021 is the 4th year that the Task Force awards have been run. Self-nominations are not allowed.

Winners of the 2021 Task Force Awards

This year 19 organizations received UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs awards. Winners were announced by the WHO Deputy Director-General on 22 September 2021 during the annual Friends of the Task Force meeting during the UN General Assembly.

In presenting the awards, the WHO Deputy Director-General said, ‘We congratulate all those awarded today. We look forward to hearing progress on their work in the months ahead. We hope that these awards encourage even greater action both by those awarded and everyone else in responding the challenge of the NCD-related SDGs’

Awards were made in three categories: (i) ministries of health (or government agency under a ministry of health); (ii) ministries (or government agencies) beyond health; and (iii) non-state actors (non-governmental organization, academic institutions and philanthropy).

Ministries of health (or government agency under a ministry of health)

• The Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran for demonstrating excellence in delivering mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Health Service Executive, Republic of Ireland for developing structured illness and preventive care in general practice to reduce morbidity and mortality from NCDs that has been developed over the last 6 years and rolled out during the pandemic.
• Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Republic of Nauru for driving forward action to reduce NCD risk factors and strengthening the management of NCDs and mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand for its outstanding contribution to reduce sugar consumption in Thailand by leading a multisectoral action to tax sugar sweetened beverages and setting an example on future pro-health taxes.
• Public Health England for their exemplary work in introducing and sharing experience in working with industry to reformulate food and drink with lower levels of salt, sugar and calories.
• Gulf Health Council for championing multisectoral action to the prevention and control of NCDs across 6 Gulf countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

Ministries (or government agencies) beyond health

• National Assembly of  Armenia for enacting a landmark tobacco control law, which will protect Armenian population from tobacco-related harm.
• Parliament of Georgia in recognition of their outstanding efforts to strengthen national tobacco control legislation and reduce the heavy burden of tobacco-attributable NCDs in Georgia.
• Ministry of Finance and Planning, Cabo Verde in recognition of their efforts in strengthening tobacco tax policy which contribute to multisectoral action on prevention and control of NCDs.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority, India for the India@75: Freedom from Trans-fats by 2022 initiative, collaborating with food industry associations.
• Food and Drug Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their role in preventing NCDs and promoting public health by improving the nutritional value of food, including through the multisectoral Healthy Food Strategy.
• Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation for raising awareness on NCDs among the general population, including during COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-state actors (non-governmental organization, academic institutions and philanthropy)

• Kamili Organisation, Kenya for their achievements in providing community mental health care services and commitment to battling the stigma associated with mental health.
• Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait for their work with the Ministry of Health to develop a national diabetes register and their contribution in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.
• The National Cancer Council Malaysia for their outstanding work to support cancer patients and survivors.
• Sudanese Childhood Diabetes Association for the exceptional work to support children with diabetes and their families.
• Movendi International, Sweden in recognition of their advocacy work to protect people from harmful use of alcohol.
• City Cancer Challenge Foundation, Switzerland for driving concrete action to strengthen and multiply quality health services, workforce and infrastructure, thus advancing access to NCDs and cancer treatment at city, regional and national levels.
• Project HOPE, USA for engaging vulnerable youth through community-based health programming, social and mass media campaigns, and advocacy with national and local leaders in the health and education sectors, including their virtual program focused on prevention of NCDs.

Notes

Winners are selected on the basis of demonstrative commitment to multisectoral action in preventing and controlling the NCD-related SDGs (at local, national, regional or international level) with particular weight given to nominations that demonstrated evidence of one or more of the following: (i) new and innovative activities; (ii) acting as an exemplar for others; (iii) overcoming significant obstacles; (iv) demonstrating outstanding leadership; and (v) mobilizing resources, knowledge or expertise.

This year, nominations were specifically encouraged for organizations working with children and youth groups as well as those working with minority communities. Nominations were also encouraged that highlighted action maintaining focus on the NCD-related SDGs as part of COVID-19 responses.

2021 is the 4th year that the Task Force awards have been run. Self-nominations are not allowed.