Annamma John Memorial Award for Outstanding Service in Public Health
A national-level public health award instituted by IHEETS to honour individuals who have made exceptional contributions to public health in the country.
Eligibility
Any individual working as part of an organisation or government service or on an independent basis who has made exceptional contributions to any of the following areas: public health policy, systems strengthening, rights-based care, or community-based healthcare models for improving access to quality healthcare in India.
Announcement Date
Announced on August 13, every year, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mrs Annamma John.
Award Inclusions
Memento & Plaque
A beautifully crafted memento and plaque honoring the achievement.
Citation
An official citation presented by the Jury Committee.
Cash Prize
A monetary reward of ₹50,000
Description
The Award is established in 2026 in honour and memory of Mrs Annamma John. Mrs John retired as Assistant Matron at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, and post-retirement, volunteered with Missionaries of Charity, Borivali, Mumbai. She also went on to develop and conduct a 'Home Care for the Aged' course SNDT University, Churchgate, Mumbai.
In later years, after shifting to Kerala, along with her husband, Mr T J John, established the Pain and Palliative Center, at Kavyoor and Mundiapally Gram Panchayat and provided support and linkages with the Palliative Care Department, Pushpagiri Hospital, Thiruvalla.
In 2010, she got elected as a Gram Panchayat member from Kaviyoor Panchayat Ward No 2 and went on to serve for the next 5 years. During this tenure, she was the Chairperson of the Social Programs Unit and continued her work in pain and palliative care. The Kavyoor-Mundiapally unit received the Joy Alukkas Foundation Award in 2019, for 10 years of contribution to their pain and palliative care efforts.
Selection Process
Invited submissions or recommended individuals (by any Jury member), final selection to be done by the Jury Committee.
Dr Jaideep C. Menon
Dr. Jaideep C. Menon is a Professor of Cardiology and Head of the Preventive Cardiology and Population Health Sciences Unit at Amrita Hospital, Kochi. A clinician–researcher with MD and DM in Cardiology and a Master of Public Health, his work focuses on preventive cardiology, population health, and venomous snakebite, with multiple national and international recognitions for his contributions to cardiovascular health and neglected tropical diseases.
Dr Chitra Venkateswaran
Dr Chitra Venkateswaran is the Founder and Managing Trustee of Mehac Foundation, Kerala’s pioneering community-based mental health organisation. A psychiatrist and senior academic, she integrates mental health into primary and palliative care to improve access for underserved communities across Kerala and beyond.
Mr George Louis Arakal
Mr George Louis Arakal is a senior administrator and HR leader who retired as Director, Digital India Corporation, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, and as Director (Administration) and Director & Head, Corporate HRD at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
Award Regulations
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1The Award will be known as the 'Annamma John Memorial Award for Outstanding Service in Public Health'.
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2The Award will be of the value of INR 50,000, along with a memento, plaque and citation by the Jury.
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3The Prize will be awarded by the Institute of Health Economics Epidemiology & Translational Sciences (IHEETS) on the recommendation of the Jury Committee.
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4The Prize may be shared.
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5IHEETS has the power to amend or vary these regulations provided that there is no departure from the main purpose of the Award.
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