This year the World No Tobacco Day Award for Civil Society Organization in South East Asia Region has been given to Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA) for its efforts in tobacco prevention and control.
Every year, The World Health Organization, WHO confers its highest award by recognizing individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards.
MPVHA is the only civil society organization in the country which has received this year’s award. WHO Director-General Special award has been given to Dr Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Republic of India.
MPVHA always extend the hands of Government of Madhya Pradesh in implementation of various health programs. It has been working closely with the State Tobacco Control Cell for implementation of National Tobacco Control Program in the state to protect the young and vulnerable including women and poor from tobacco menace. The WHO award is the recognition of MPVHA’s contribution to the advancement of the policies, helping the Government in implementation of its tobacco control law (COTPA-203) and measures contained in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its guidelines.
