37th World Health Organization (WHO) Sasakawa Health Prize

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Al-Maani and Dr. Wu for their selection as recipients of the 37th Sasakawa Health Prize, as well as to thank them for their tireless efforts to promote primary health care.

The Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 stated that “health is a fundamental human right.” The promotion of primary health care, or PHC, is crucial to achieving the goal of extending this right to all people everywhere. My late father Ryoichi Sasakawa established the Sasakawa Health Prize in 1984 to honor noteworthy activities in the promotion of PHC as an essential means of improving human health. We have continued to award the prize for that purpose every year since then.

Dr. Al-Maani established a system for antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Oman, facilitating epidemiological surveys of new infectious diseases. In China, Dr. Wu has helped dramatically improve public health, particularly in remote areas far from major cities, by developing a model for training of and collaboration among family doctors. Their activities are the very embodiment of the principles of PHC. Both of them have contributed significantly to the fight against infectious disease, a problem that humanity has long confronted and must continue to deal with in the future. It is my great honor to present this award to two people whose work I admire so much. I look forward to subsequent achievements by Dr. Al-Maani and Dr. Wu in the ongoing effort to bring better health to humanity. My sincerest gratitude to both of you. Thank you.

＊This video message is available at The Nippon Foundation YouTube.