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EspañolMember wins prize at WHO World Health Assembly
At the World Health Assembly in May 2015, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) was awarded the The Dr LEE Jong-Wook Memorial Prize for Public Health, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to public health, beyond the call of normal duty. TIF has successfully demonstrated the significant impact on patients that organizations can have on the promotion of disease specific (and general health oriented) policies and programmes.
The empowerment of patients and parents across geographic, cultural, religious, social and linguistic borders, and their transformation into equal partners with national and international health bodies, has been a major success and will continue to be the main focus of TIF’s work in the future.
Background
TIF is a non-profit, non-governmental umbrella federation, based in Cyprus. Its mission is to promote optimal quality care for all patients with Thalassaemia across the world, and it has a membership of 117 Thalassaemia patients’ associations from 57 countries.
TIF’s work is based on five pillars: communications, E-education tools, education, projects, and networking. Through this, patients are at the centre of their focus and work. TIF has worked in official relations with WHO since 1996, promoting and contributing to disease specific and public health programmes, as an important element of its activities.
Working with IAPO
TIF is a member of IAPO, whose goals align with IAPO principles of Universal Health Coverage and Patient-Centred Healthcare. Its affiliation with IAPO has helped to consolidate its collaboration with WHO, particularly on the issues of counterfeit medicines, non-communicable diseases, and patient-centred healthcare.
IAPO works closely with the patient community to maximize their impact, for example through capacity building, and building cross-sector alliances with policy makers, academics, researchers, industry representatives, and other key stakeholders.
