Egypt wins 2026 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion; Dr. Kandeel first Egyptian recipient

CAIRO – 8 February 2026: Dr. Amr Kandeel, Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, has won the 2026 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday.

The award was granted to Kandeel in recognition of more than 25 years of service to public health in Egypt and the region, the ministry said in a statement, citing an announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board.

The award was established by WHO in 2019 to mark the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who dedicated his life to equality, justice, and human rights.

It is presented annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions with a tangible impact on improving community health.

Kandeel is the first Egyptian to receive the prestigious award. He is scheduled to formally receive it in May 2026 during the World Health Assembly session.

Among his most notable achievements, Kandeel led Egypt’s preventive medicine system to earn WHO certification for eliminating polio, measles, rubella, trachoma, and malaria, making Egypt the first African country to achieve this.

He also oversaw the control of hepatitis B among children, the first such achievement in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Kandeel spearheaded major advancements in infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance systems, with five hospitals obtaining international accreditation.

In addition, Kandeel played a key role in the digital transformation of vaccination systems, birth and death registration, epidemiological surveillance, and quarantine services.

Under his leadership, 129 primary healthcare units were accredited, and state-funded treatment services were expanded across 100 health units nationwide.