[e-drug] Olle Hansson Award 2007 to Eva Ombaka

[prasadini@haiap.org]

E-DRUG: Olle Hansson Award 2007 to Eva Ombaka
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[Eva has been an e-drugger from the beginning.  On behalf of the moderators, I send sincere congratulations for this Award. BS]

PRESS RELEASE
23^rd 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.

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.  

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.

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
prasadini@haiap.org