President Paul Kagame has been honored with an award by the World Health Organization (WHO) for his leadership in advocating for stronger global capacity in preventing and always being prepared for health emergencies and pandemics.
The award was presented on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during the closing ceremony of the inaugural World Health Organization meeting.
Rwanda’s Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland where the award was presented, announced that “the WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised His Excellency President Paul Kagame’s leadership in advocating for the global capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to future health emergencies.”
The award was received on behalf of President Kagame by Rwanda’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa.
Ambassador Bakuramutsa expressed pride in accepting the award dedicated to President Kagame, who was recognized as one of 20 individuals in world history who have played a significant role in responding to pandemics.She said, “It is a great honor that Rwanda’s leadership is playing a role in advancing inclusive health systems that leave no region behind especially in Africa.”
When the COVID-19 vaccine was found, a pandemic that had severely shaken the world. President Kagame was among the heads of state who played a vital role in ensuring that vaccines were shared and reached developing countries in Africa, at a time when wealthy nations attempted to hoard them.
President Kagame has also advanced Rwanda’s healthcare sector where as in the years following the outbreak of COVID-19, Rwanda became home to some major health infrastructure projects, including the launch of a BioNTech vaccine manufacturing facility in December 2023.
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