Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 20 May 2026

Key points

• Public health awards Today at the World Health Assembly, six laureates from around the world received awards for their outstanding contributions to public health.
• The 2026 prizes celebrate the remarkable dedication of these professionals and institutions to advancing primary health care, reducing inequities and bringing the goal of health for all closer to reality.
• The awards were presented by the President of the Assembly, Dr Víctor Elias Atallah Lajam of Dominican Republic, together with high-level representatives of the foundations that established these public health awards and prizes, and the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
• More about the award winners Delegates approve decision on health emergency in Ukraine The Assembly delegates noted today a report by the Director-General related to the humanitarian and emergency health response in Ukraine, and WHO’s continuous support to the country’s emergency health response.
• Considering the report, delegates approved a decision requesting continued implementation...