Kerala the southern state of India won a United Nations for its “outstanding contribution” towards the “non-communicable diseases-related sustainable development goals”. World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) award this year on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. The award recognises achievements during 2019 on the multisectoral action in the prevention and control of NCDs, mental health and the wider NCD-related sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“The state government has arranged facilities from the basic public health centres to hospitals at all levels to treat the lifestyle diseases,” Shailaja said in a statement after the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) announced the award this year. “We were able to control the death rate during the Covid-19 period as we were able to focus on the NCDs,” said the popular leader, Shailaja expressing gratitude. Announcing the good news on Twitter, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote:
Pleased to present awards at the Interagency Task Force to #BeatNCDs side event at #UNGA to those that have helped us save lives – thank you for joining @WHO in the fight to reduce deaths from cancer, diabetes, heart & lung diseases, & mental health conditions. https://t.co/s4Sq1B6vYp pic.twitter.com/YzJUckp8Hj
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 24, 2020
Health Minister K K Shailaja said the award was recognition of the tireless service of Kerala in the health sector. “The state government has arranged facilities from the basic public health centres to hospitals at all levels to treat the lifestyle diseases,” Shailaja said in a statement. “We were able to control the death rate during the COVID-19 period as we were able to focus on the NCDs.” She congratulated all the health workers for the achievement of the state.
This is the first time the state has been recognised for this annual award by the UN. Kerala is among the seven ministries of health across the world. A release by the Kerala government said that the award was a recognition of the lifestyle disease control mechanism in Kerala, and the treatment and free services received by a large section of the population. “In addition, the state-of-the-art lung disease control program, cancer treatment program and paralysis control program were also considered for the award,” the statement said.