Islamabad, 25 November 2021 (TDI): As a public diplomacy initiative, Diplomatic Insight Group organized the 4th Global Ambassadors Award Ceremony to acknowledge the services of Ambassadors and diplomats, heads of international organizations, businessmen for the promotion of people to people contact, business, trade, and constructive bilateral relations with their respective states and missions.
As a result of outstanding contribution towards building Pakistan’s strong partnership with the World Health Organisation, on behalf of the people of Pakistan, Diplomatic Insight Group conferred an award to Dr. P. G. Mahipala, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Pakistan. This was a humble tribute to his hard work and commitment to promote and build strong health-related cooperation, especially during COVID-19 times.
Before stepping into Pakistan, Dr. Mahipala has served as Coordinator of non-communicable diseases and environmental health in the WHO SEAR region, Director General of Health Services, and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health Sri Lanka.
Graduating from the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya, in 1983, Dr. P. G. Mahipala has made significant contributions in the field of science and medicine. His academic career is as decorated as his professional career. Dr. P. G. Mahipala is one of the most decorated country heads of WHO that ever stepped on Pakistan.
Along with it, Dr. Mahipala held many positions at the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Mahipala held several executive posts at Professional Medical Colleges, served at various international Boards boards for example Global Fund to Fight against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, Co-chair for southeast Asia Region – Vision 2020 Programme, Member of WHO Expert Panel in Vision 2020 program.
During his tenure in Pakistan, his efforts cannot go unnoticed. In April 2019, he has organized a global expert team comprising of WHO HQ, CDC, and other renowned expert networks 12 in numbers to investigate the Larkana HIV outbreak in Sindh province.
In addition, mobilization of financial resources from the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union to establish a strong waste disposal system in public and private hospitals in Larkana are one of his remarkable works for the people and Government of Pakistan.
During his tenure and with his help and efforts, Pakistan is the first country in the world to develop health services benefit package using the DCP-3 tool in the world. He also supported the Ministry of Health to develop an Action Plan to deal with non-communicable diseases and mental health and Worked with the civil society, government, academia, and media to reduce tobacco consumption in Pakistan.
He is also Propagating the importance of physical exercise, and he’s advocating with academia, provincial authorities, and civil society for transfat elimination. Not to forget that working under the patronage of His Excellency the President and the First Lady to advocate on early screening of Breast cancer from 2020.
During, Covid-19 he supported the Government of Pakistan to build a comprehensive strategy and started a special campaign called “wear a mask to protect Pakistan,” And Mobilized nearly $20 million to support these activities. Made donations to the Government such as 40 Ambulances, 32 PCR machines, millions of PPEs, 200 motorbikes, and many other vehicles to strengthen the COVID response. Lastly, he responded well to disasters like the earthquake in Mirpur, Floods in Sindh province, and many more.