Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja has been awarded the prestigious Central European University (CEU) Open Society Prize in recognition of her commitment to public health services.
The Open Society Prize, awarded annually to persons of exceptional distinction who serve the ideals of an open society, was announced during the 30th graduation ceremony which was held online recently. President and Rector of CEU, Michael Ignatieff, announced the award for "Shailaja Teacher" and said the prize is awarded this year to an "extraordinary public servant" from the developing world.
“As minister of public health in the Indian state of Kerala, during the COVID-19 pandemic, K K Shailaja Teacher and the dedicated staff of the public health service, demonstrated to the world that determined leadership, community-based public health and effective communication can save lives,” Ignatieff said. “By awarding CEU’s highest award to Shailaja Teacher, the university honours a public servant and female leader for her commitment to public health services,” he said.
United Nations former Secretary-General Kofi Annan and American economist and nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz are among previous recipients of the award.
Shailaja has received many national and international honours for leading Kerala's fight against Covid and NIPAH virus.
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