Dhaka, Bangladesh — Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter, Director-General, Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, and Haiti’s Foundation for Reproductive Health and Family Education (FOSREF) has won the 2006’s United Nations Population Award. Dr. Halida received the award for her outstanding contribution to raising awareness on family planning and population issues.
Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter,
winner of the 2006 United Nations Population Award in the individual category
The Population Award Committee, chaired by Ambassador Judith Bahemuka of Kenya, chose the winners from 27 nominees, including top-level policy makers, researchers and health workers from around the world. The Committee consists of 10 United Nations Member States, the United Nations Population Fund, serving as its secretariat. Each winner will receive a diploma, a gold medal and an equal share of a monetary prize. The awards has been presented on Wednesday, 7 June, at the United Nations, New York.
Dr. Halida is the Director-General of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, which was established in 1953, making it one of the world’s oldest Planned Parenthood affiliates, according to papers filed with the Award Committee. She also chairs the Board of Directors of the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), based in Seattle. During her 30-year career, Dr. Halida researched and managed reproductive health programmes and technologies. In 1986, she founded the Bangladesh Institute of Research for Promotion of Essential and Reproductive Health and Technologies. At this institute, the laureate took part in key research in contraceptive effectiveness, reproductive health needs and services, and in assessments of maternal deaths in Bangladesh.
Dr. Halida worked for PPD as a Senior Reproductive Health Advisor.