The Karel Styblo Public Health Prize acknowledges a health worker or a community organisation for public health contributions to tuberculosis control over a period of 10 years or more. This prize is named in honour of Dr Karel Styblo, Director of Scientific Activities at The Union from 1979 to 1991, who played a central role in developing The Union TB control model that was later branded by WHO as DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course).
The award is presented at The Union World Conference on Lung Health.
Recipients
2025: The prize was jointly awarded to the Former TB Division of USAID (USA) and Desmond Tutu TB Centre (South Africa) for significant contributions the fight to end TB and lung disease.
2020: Dr Edward A Nardell (USA) was recognised for his contribution to public health and being a tireless advocate and educator in the field of TB control.
2019: Noleen Dirkse (South Africa) was recognised for her outstanding contribution to her local community of Knysna in the Western Cape of South Africa, where she does all she can to assist people diagnosed with HIV, AIDS and TB, and is a TB survivor herself.
2018: The prize went to Oksana Ponomarenko (Russia) for making an outstanding contribution to TB control on a local, national and global level, with a focus on hard-to-treat, drug-resistant TB among vulnerable people.
2017: Dr Rohit Sarin (India) was honoured for his key contribution to DOTS and MDR-TB treatment both nationally and internationally.
2016: Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA) was honoured for their contribution and commitment to tuberculosis control for more than 70 years.
2015: Prof Stephen M Graham (Australia) is widely recognised as an expert in child TB and has been chair of the Stop TB Partnership’s Child TB Subgroup, as well as serving on several WHO taskforces. The author of numerous publication, he played a leading role in the development of the Roadmap for Childhood TB: towards zero deaths (2013).
2014: Dr Maarten van Cleeff (The Netherlands) started his international career in Tanzania, working with the National TB and Leprosy Programme from 1981 to 1990. Under the guidance of Dr Karel Styblo, he and his colleagues played a key role in the implementation of a countrywide TB programme, using short-course chemotherapy.
2013: Tomsk Oblast Tuberculosis and Pulmonology Medical Centre (Russian Federation) received the award for piloting the use of DOTS-Plus (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) to combat multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
2012: Dr Karin Weyer (South Africa) directed a WHO multi-disciplinary team responsible for developing new policies on TB diagnostics and laboratory procedures, norms and standards.
2011: No prize was awarded.
2010: The Association for Social Development of Pakistan was honoured for pioneering a model collaboration with Pakistan's National TB Programme that has had a significant impact on the country's efforts to combat TB.
2009: Prof Digambar Behera (India) was honoured for a career spanning more than 30 years in patient care, research, teaching and advocating for lung health.
2008: Chief Austin Arinze Obiefuna (Ghana) was honoured for his extensive work as a TB and HIV advocate, including founder and President of the Afro Global Alliance International, National Coordinator of the Stop TB Partnership Ghana and National Coordinator of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
2007: Ms Lucy Chesire (Kenya)
2006: No prize was awarded.
2005: Dr Liu Jianjun (China)
2004: Dr Jaap Broekmans (The Netherlands)
2003: Prof Oumou Bah Sow (Guinea Conakry)
2002: Dr Anne Horgheim (Norway)
2001: Dr Akihiro Seita (Japan)
2000: Dr G R Khatri (India)
1999: Prof Martin Gninafon (Benin)
1998: Dr Dirgh Singh Bam (Nepal)
1997: Dr Gombogaram Tsogt (Mongolia)