WHO Sasakawa Health Prize Award Ceremony

Let me begin by congratulating the Federation of Medicus Mundi Spain for receiving the 32nd Sasakawa Health Prize. I would also like to thank the Sasakawa Health Prize Selection Panel for your understanding of the objectives of this prize and your careful consideration in selecting this year’s recipient.

The Nippon Foundation established The Sasakawa Health Prize in 1984, when WHO was promoting the “Health for all” initiative under the Declaration of Alma-Ata. The objective of the prize is to recognize individuals and organizations who have made a positive impact on people’s lives and an outstanding contribution to the field of primary health care. The prize also aims to encourage the further progress of their activities.

This year, Medicus Mundi Spain is awarded the prize in recognition for their project seeking the “transformation of public health systems based on the principles of primary health care” in El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, and Bolivia.

For more than 20 years, this project has aimed to improve access to primary health care in rural areas and indigenous communities. I hear that local participation, that is, working with health workers, therapists, administrators, and residents in each community, is central to this project.

Medicus Mundi Spain will use the award funds to conduct scientific research on the impact of the project on the health systems of the four countries. They also plan to study the possibility of implementing the project in other regions. We hope that their work will make a further contribution to improving primary health care.

Now, all of us are working towards sustainable development goals, one of which is Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Together with Medicus Mundi Spain and everyone here today, let us continue in our efforts to achieve this goal.

Congratulations again to Medicus Mundi Spain!