Former Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja bags prestigious European award

UN former Secy-General Kofi Annan and nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz are among previous recipients of the award

Kerala former Health Minister K K Shailaja has been awarded the Open Society Prize by the Central European University (CEU) in recognition of her committed public health service.

The annual award is given to persons of exceptional distinction and was announced by the CEU president and rector Michael Ignatieff. He said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Shailaja Teacher (as she is popularly known) and the staff of Kerala public health service demonstrated to the world that determined leadership, community-based public health and effective communication can save lives.

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United Nations former Secretary-General Kofi Annan and American economist and nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz are among previous recipients of the award.

Shailaja has received many national and international honours for leading Kerala's fight against Covid and NIPAH virus.