Jakarta – Former Timor Leste president Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao has won the Excellence in Public Health Award from the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region for his breakthrough work in improving the health and well-being of his people.

"Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, former president and currently the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, has been recognized for building sustainable health services, specifically for training medical doctors," WHO said in a statement on Wednesday.

The UN health body also presented an Excellence in Public Health Award to former Bhutan health and education minister Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup. The former minister was recognized for setting up the Bhutan Health Trust Fund to fund vaccines and essential drugs.

"The awards show our appreciation and acknowledgment of their significant contributions to health care services," WHO South-East Asia Region director Poonam Khetrapal Singh said.

She was speaking at the award ceremony on the sidelines of the WHO regional committee meeting in Dili, Timor Leste, on Tuesday evening.

In 2003, Gusmao signed a historic agreement with Cuba for building a sustainable health system and training medical doctors in Timor Leste while he was serving as president of the country.

Two years later, Gusmao signed another agreement with Cuba to train 1,000 Timorese medical doctors. Today, all 42 villages in Timor Leste have at least one doctor in each of their health centers and health posts.

Meanwhile, Ngedup brought about significant developments in the health sector in Bhutan while he served as the director general of health services in 1992 and the health and education minister in 1998.

"His most important contribution was the Bhutan Health Trust Fund, which was set up to ensure continued funding of two critical components of health services, namely vaccines and essential drugs," said WHO.

Health contributions from all employees in Bhutan are now channeled through the fund, ensuring a sustainable supply of vaccines and essential drugs for its citizens.

Initiated last year, the WHO award is aimed at recognizing public health professionals, institutions or programs whose works have resulted in far-reaching impacts and gains.

The Timor Leste Malaria Control Program and Saima Hossain of Bangladesh were the first recipients of the award. Hossain was recognized for her efforts to put autism on the global agenda. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/09/xanana-gusmao-receives-who-public-health-award.html