Kerala has won a United Nations award for its 'outstanding contribution’ towards non-communicable diseases-related sustainable development goals.

The WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) award this year on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

Pleased to present awards at the Interagency Task Force to #BeatNCDs side event at #UNGA to those that have helped us save lives - thank you for joining @WHO in the fight to reduce deaths from cancer, diabetes, heart & lung diseases, & mental health conditions. https://t.co/s4Sq1B6vYp pic.twitter.com/YzJUckp8Hj

The award sheds light on the achievements during the year 2019 for multisectoral action in the prevention and control of NCDs, mental health, and the wider NCD-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

Kerala has bagged the UN award for its multi sectoral approach in the prevention and control of non communicable diseases. The announcement has been made by WHO.

This is the first time when a state has been recognized for this prestigious award and Kerala is one of the seven ministries of health across the world.  

Health Minister KK Shailaja said, “The state government has arranged facilities from the basic public health centers to hospitals at all levels to treat the lifestyle diseases. We were able to control the death rate during the COVID-19 period as we were able to focus on the NCDs." 

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She also congratulated all the health workers for being a part of the achievement of the state. 

The state’s press release said, “In addition, the state-of-the-art lung disease control program, cancer treatment program, and paralysis control program were also considered for the award.”

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Kerala which has the best HDI in the country also has the best public healthcare systems in India.

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