PHA-Exchange> Press release on Olle Hansson Award 2007 for pha-exchange

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 from prasadini <prasadini at haiap.org> -----

PRESS RELEASE
23rd May 2007 (Olle Hansson Day) 

African Activist Wins Olle Hansson Award 2007


The Olle Hansson Award which recognizes the contribution of individuals from 
developing countries in promoting the concepts of essential drugs and their 
rational use and increasing awareness among consumers of the dangers of 
irrational and hazardous drugs has been awarded to Dr Eva Ombaka this year. 

Dr. Ombaka, a Tanzanian Pharmacist, has been committed to the goals of 'Access 
to Essential Medicines' and 'Rational Use of Medicines' over the years. She is 
currently a Member of the Pharmaceutical Advisory Group (PAG) of the World 
Council of Churches (WCC), Coordinator of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical 
Network (EPN) and is the Board Member Chair of Sustainable Healthcare 
Foundation in Kenya. Among her many achievements are: 

-         spearheading advocacy campaigns via EPN to help shape pharmaceutical 
policies and guidelines based on the concept of essential medicines, the WHO 
Model list of Essential Medicines and the Interagency Guidelines on Drug 
Donations;

-         contribution to the development of the Tanzania National Drug Policy;

-         designing training curricula and organizing courses for 
pharmaceutical institutes to produce many graduates focusing on Essential 
Drugs and their rational use;

-         contribution as an active member in the model list expert committee 
at WHO which regularly updates the List of Essential Medicines;

-         providing leadership for EPN members and WHO for evaluating faith-
based drug supply organizations in a number of African countries where the 
lessons learnt have led to the development of 'Guidelines for Effective and 
Efficient Pharmaceutical Services' that are now in use in health institutions 
in several countries. 

-         developing EPN's mission statement of 'facilitating the development 
of compassionate, just and sustainable quality pharmaceutical care in and 
through the church health care system'

 

Educated and trained as a Pharmacist at the University of Aston in Birmingham, 
UK she also received her PhD for research in Pharmaceutical Microbiology from 
the same institution. Dr Ombaka was also a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar 
in 1986-1987. Her 30-year career in pharmacy has included hospital practice, 
work in academia and in the manufacturing sector. 

 

The award is named in honour of Dr Olle Hansson a Swedish paediatric 
neurologist internationally known for his advocacy of SMON (Sub-acute Myelo 
Optic Neuropathy) victims who were paralysed or blinded after using 
clioquinol, an antidiarrhoeal drug. The awardee is chosen by an international 
selection panel of three eminent persons. The award is managed by Health 
Action International Asia-Pacific (HAIAP), a network of organizations and 
individuals involved in health and pharmaceutical issues.

 

Dr Ombaka's work has been most notable for bringing experiences from the 
grassroots to global fora and providing feedback from international meetings 
back to the people she serves at the local communities. She exemplifies the 
qualities of hard work, uncompromising steadfastness, and clear thinking that 
are basic attributes of a much wider community of people facing reality at the 
point where theory meets practice and where the challenges are always more 
numerous than resources. All who have worked with her will share pleasure in 
honouring her for her great contribution to strengthening health and 
pharmaceutical services where the needs are greatest.  

 

For more information please contact:

Prasadini Perera

Project Officer

Health Action International Asia-Pacific (HAIAP)

No. 05, Level 02, Frankfurt Place

Colombo 04

SRI LANKA

Tel: + 94 112 554353

Fax: +94 112 554270

E-mail: prasadini at haiap.org or hai at haiap.org  

_________________________________
Prasadini Perera
Project Officer
Health Action International Asia Pacific (HAIAP)
No. 05, Level 02, Frankfurt Place
Colombo 04, Sri Lanka
Tel: + 94 112 554353 Fax: + 94 112 554570
E-mail: prasadini at haiap.org
Website: http://www.haiap.org

Health Action International (HAI) is an independent, global network working to 
increase access to essential medicines and improve their rational use.

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