NNJS bags WHO South-East Asia 2026 Regional Award for Public Health Champions
Summary
The Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh has received the WHO South-East Asia Regional Public Health Champion Award 2026 for restoring sight to millions and reducing avoidable blindness in Nepal. The award was presented in Dili, Timor-Leste, at the 79th meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee.
Key Points
- The Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh won the WHO South-East Asia Regional Public Health Champion Award 2026 from the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Regional Office.
- WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented the award to NNJS President Prof. Dr. Chetraj Pant in Dili, Timor-Leste.
- NNJS said it has helped reduce Nepal's blindness prevalence from 0.84% in 1981 to 0.28% in 2020/2021 through nationwide eye-care services.
- The organization has provided millions of consultations and surgeries through a network of eye hospitals, treatment centers, and outreach programs.
