Róza Ádány, research professor at the ELKH-DE Public Health Research Group, visiting professor at Semmelweis University, and professor at the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Debrecen, has been assisting the work of the WHO European Regional Office for more than two decades, and was awarded the WHO Regional Director's Award this year. The award was presented to the internationally renowned expert by Dr. Piroska Östlin, WHO Regional Advisor, in Debrecen.
At the ceremony, Dr. Piroska Östlin expressed her immense pride in presenting the WHO's recognition to Professor Róza Ádány. She emphasized that she has worked and is still working personally with her and her colleagues on designing public health research and programs to improve the health status of the population. She pointed out that this work is still highly necessary today, as good health, access to healthcare services and well-being are still not easily accessible to many people.
Dr. Piroska Östlin said that Róza Ádány has conducted valuable research on the health status and access to healthcare services of the most vulnerable people, including the Roma population, and initiated the establishment of a research network dealing with the public health situation of the Roma population with the participation of experts from Eastern, Central and Southern European countries where the Roma population is present in high numbers.
Dr. Róza Ádány at the award ceremony said that she was very pleased to receive recognition from the WHO director, but she considers the award as recognition of the joint work with her colleagues in Hungary and Europe in the field of public health education development, research and expert activities aimed at reducing health inequalities. She emphasized that health is the greatest value and as a public health professional, her main goal is to help as many fellow citizens as possible to possess this value, regardless of their national, religious, or social background. Furthermore, she stated that their work is not driven by the pursuit of more awards, but rather by their commitment to improving the health of people, which is the key to ensuring social and economic development.