NESCOM established the Oration Award in order to felicitate distinguished scholars, academicians and experts, who have contributed to the advancement of the society, community, health and the education sector. In continuation of the tradition that began in 2017, NESCOM awards this year’s Oration Award to World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav for his oration on “Walking the Talk to Accelerate the Action in Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases in Nepal”
His contribution as a WHO Representative has been instrumental in supporting the Government of Nepal towards achieving better health for all people in Nepal.
Dr Pandav received his training in medicine at Grant Medical College, Mumbai, India, and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, USA. He is illustrious epidemiologist, research Scientist, public health physician, and mental health specialist who has significant contribution in the field of NCD for a long time.
Dr. Pandav has been appointed as the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal from September 2020. He began his professional journey with the WHO since 2004 in the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia Region, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit. Since then, he has served WHO in various capacities that include: Medical Officer (Public Health), WHO Country Office for Maldives (2009-2011) and Health Policy Advisor, WHO Country Office for Timor-Leste (2011-March 2015).
Dr Pandav is the recipient of the WHO Director General’s Excellence Award in the year 2016 for his outstanding service to the WHO. His extraordinary leadership in the field of Non-Communicable Diseases has been recognized with the WHO Director-General’s award for Excellence to WHO country office Timor-Leste (2018-2019). for championing the Walk the Talk initiative.