World No Tobacco Day Awards: WHO Recognises Leaders in Tobacco Control Efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO) has honored the individuals, government agencies, researchers and organizations from across the six regions for their exceptional contributions to tobacco control. These annual awards recognize the efforts to reduce tobacco consumption, strengthen public health policies, promote awareness and support smoking cessation initiatives.

WHO Announces World No Tobacco Day 2026 Award Winners

Every year, WHO presents the World No Tobacco Day Awards to individuals and organizations that have made the significant contributions toward tobacco control.

This awards acknowledge initiatives aimed at to reducing tobacco use, protecting public health, promoting awareness campaigns, strengthening legislation and supporting tobacco cessation services.

The 2026 awards showcases the outstanding achievements from all six WHO regions.

WHO Director-General Special Award 2026

The highest recognition this year was the WHO Director-General Special Award.

Recipient

• Dr Shaya Mohsin – Zindani Prime Minister
• Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates – Republic of Yemen

The award recognizes the exceptional leadership and commitment towards to advancing tobacco control initiatives and public health objectives.

African Region Award Winners

There are several distinguished individuals and organizations from Africa were recognized for their contributions.

Award Recipients

• Dr Nare Narcisse Mathurin (Burkina Faso)
• Dr Louise Mapleh Kpoto (Liberia)
• Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board (Nigeria)
• Professor Catherine O. Egbe (South Africa)
• Professor Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf (South Africa)

These recipients have played the important roles in tobacco regulation, public awareness, research and health policy development.

Region of the Americas Award Winners

The Americas region had featured the awardees from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay.

Recognised Organizations and Leaders

• Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (Brazil)
• Mônica Andreis, ACT Promoção da Saúde (Brazil)
• Daniel Dorado, Tobacco Control Campaign (Colombia)
• Dr Inti Barrientos, National Institute of Public Health (Mexico)
• Dr Cristina Lustemberg, Minister of Public Health (Uruguay)

Their work has contributed significantly to the public health protection and tobacco control advocacy.

Eastern Mediterranean Region Honourees

The Eastern Mediterranean Region has recognized the several individuals and institutions from Iran, Libya, Pakistan, and Tunisia.

Key Awardees

• Iran – Dr Abdolhossein Khosropanah & Dr Behzad Valizadeh
• Libya – Ali M. Elrghabi
• Pakistan – Dr Waseem Iftikhar Janjua& Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of National Health Services
• Tunisia – Professor Hatem Bouzaiene, Professor Radhouane Fakhfakh & Dr Mounira Masmoudi Nabli (Posthumous Recognition)

The awards highlights the efforts in research, policymaking, and anti-tobacco advocacy.

European Region Winners

Several public health leaders and organizations from the Europe received recognition.

Award Recipients

• Comité National Contre le Tabagisme (France)
• Dr Svetlana Nicolaescu (Moldova)
• Professor Florin Dumitru Mihălțan (Romania)
• Dr Mónica García Gómez (Spain)
• Susann Koalick (Switzerland)
• Dr Allen Gallagher (United Kingdom)

India Among South-East Asia Region Award Winners

India had also featured prominently among the award recipients from the South-East Asia Region.

Indian Award Winners

• Principal Health Secretary
• Medical and Health Department, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• ICMR – National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research
• Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Other South-East Asia Awardees

• People’s Health Foundation (Myanmar)
• Acting Sub-Lieutenant Trakul Thotham (Thailand)
• Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (Thailand)

Western Pacific Region Award Winners

The Western Pacific Region honoured the recipients from the countries like Cambodia, China, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Key Awardees

• Touch Chanthy (Cambodia)
• Professor Chung-mau Lo (Hong Kong SAR, China)
• People’s Government of Shenzhen Municipality (China)
• City Government of Baguio (Philippines)
• Vietnam Shared Award Recipients
• Department of Legislation, Ministry of Health
• Health Policy and Strategy Institute
• Poison Control Center Bach Mai Hospital