At the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has recognised four distinguished leaders with the Award for Global Health, honouring their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to improving health outcomes worldwide. The award, established in 2019, recognises individuals whose leadership has delivered tangible improvements in global health. This year’s laureates—Dr Tore Godal, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, Dr Mike Ryan, and Dr Heba El Sewedy—were celebrated during the High-Level Welcome, held under the theme “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility.”
WHO Award for Global Health Recipients and Their Impact Areas (2026)
| Recipient | Primary Focus Area | Key Achievement | Impact Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Tore Godal | Immunization and Infectious Diseases | Co-founded Gavi, Roll Back Malaria, CEPI | Millions protected from vaccine-preventable and neglected diseases |
| Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis | Immunization and Disease Elimination | Leadership in Americas immunization expansion | Regional and global disease elimination programmes |
| Dr Mike Ryan | Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness | WHO Health Emergencies Director | Global health emergency coordination |
| Dr Heba El Sewedy | Health Equity and Community Health | Leadership in primary healthcare integration | Universal health coverage advancement |
Source: WHO, 2026
Godal’s Legacy in Vaccines and Neglected Disease Control
Dr Tore Godal was recognised for transformative leadership in immunization and infectious diseases, having played a pivotal role in elevating vaccines as a global development priority throughout his career. His work helped establish three major global health initiatives: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Roll Back Malaria, and CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations—institutions that have mobilised billions in funding for vaccine development and disease control.
As former leader of WHO‘s Tropical Diseases Programme, Dr Godal expanded community-based ivermectin distribution and onchocerciasis control efforts, protecting large populations from river blindness and other neglected tropical diseases. His approach translated scientific research into large-scale public health action, demonstrating how institutional innovation and strategic partnerships can extend health interventions to vulnerable populations at scale.
Recognition of Emergency Response and Equity Leadership
Dr Mike Ryan and Dr Heba El Sewedy were also recognised for their contributions to global health security and equity. Dr Ryan, heading WHO’s Health Emergencies programme, has been instrumental in coordinating international responses to infectious disease outbreaks and pandemic preparedness. Dr El Sewedy’s work has focused on embedding primary healthcare within health systems and advancing universal health coverage, addressing the structural barriers that leave vulnerable populations without equitable access to essential services.
The awards reflect a broader institutional shift within the WHO towards recognising not only scientific innovation but also the leadership capacity required to translate evidence into sustainable policy and community-level action. See related coverage on global health initiatives and infectious disease control programmes.
Award Establishment and Recognition Criteria
The Director-General’s Award for Global Health, established in 2019, recognises individuals whose sustained commitment has produced measurable health improvements across populations and geographies. The award ceremony at the World Health Assembly, the WHO’s decision-making body, underscores the organisation’s commitment to honouring evidence-based leadership in public health.
“I am honoured to present the Global Health Leaders Awards to four individuals who have made outstanding lifetime contributions to global health,” said Dr Tedros. The 2026 awards are particularly significant as they recognise leaders who have worked across vaccine development, disease elimination, emergency preparedness, and health equity—the pillars of contemporary global health policy.
Four distinguished global health leaders recognised by WHO Director-General for lifetime achievements in vaccination, infectious disease control, emergency response, and health equity at the 2026 World Health Assembly
— Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General (WHO, 2026)
Key takeaways
- Four global health leaders—Dr Godal, Dr Dahl-Regis, Dr Ryan, and Dr El Sewedy—honoured for lifetime contributions to vaccine development, disease elimination, emergency response, and health equity
- Dr Godal’s co-founding of Gavi, Roll Back Malaria, and CEPI demonstrates how institutional innovation can mobilise funding and scale health interventions globally
- The award recognises leadership that translates scientific evidence into sustainable public health action, protecting millions of lives across neglected tropical diseases and vaccine-preventable conditions
- Recognition occurs at a critical moment when global health faces emerging pandemic threats and persistent inequities in vaccine access and primary healthcare coverage
Frequently asked questions
What is the WHO Award for Global Health and when was it established?
The Director-General’s Award for Global Health, established in 2019 by the WHO, recognises individuals whose leadership and sustained commitment have delivered tangible improvements in health outcomes worldwide. The award is presented annually at the World Health Assembly and honours those who have translated evidence-based strategies into large-scale public health action.
What were Dr Tore Godal’s major contributions to global health?
Dr Godal co-founded or helped establish three major global health initiatives: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Roll Back Malaria; and CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. He also led WHO’s Tropical Diseases Programme, expanding community-based control efforts against onchocerciasis (river blindness) and other neglected tropical diseases, protecting millions of people from preventable conditions.
How does this award reflect current priorities in global health?
The 2026 awards recognise leaders across four critical areas: vaccine development and immunization, disease elimination, emergency preparedness, and health equity. This reflects the WHO‘s current strategic emphasis on strengthening health systems, ensuring equitable access to vaccines and treatments, and building resilience against future health threats.
As global health systems face mounting pressures from antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, and persistent vaccine inequities, the recognition of these four leaders underscores the need for continued investment in both scientific innovation and the institutional capacity to translate research into community-level impact. Their collective legacy provides a roadmap for how sustained leadership, strategic partnerships, and evidence-based policy can reshape health outcomes across populations and geographies.
Source: Director-General presents Award for Global Health to four distinguished leaders
