On the 65th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Ravi Kannan will be one of the awardees, and will be honored for his extraordinary contributions to health care in India, especially in "pro-people health care and cancer care."
Regarded as "Asia's version of the Nobel Prize", the Ramon Magsaysay Awards recognizes Kannan as a 'Hero for Holistic Healthcare Award' for his commitment to holistic healthcare, notably in the challenging field of cancer care, which earned him this prestigious award.
He is a surgical oncologist, and was working at the Adyar Cancer Institute, a major cancer treatment facility in Chennai, before he left to work and reside in a rural northeast area of India where access to medical care was difficult.
In 1996, Kannan was able to spearhead the transformation of the non-profit Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) into a comprehensive cancer treatment hospital. He eventually became its director in 2007.
Kannan utilized innovative strategies, and a compassionate outlook to significantly enhance the hospital's capabilities. He likewise shared his insight that led to the realization that access to cutting-edge facilities was only the beginning.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 6, Kannan pointed out that the "award belongs to all the people who have joined hands to make the lives of those suffering from cancer better."
"The award is not about me but about many people, including 450 colleagues of the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, whose contribution is immense, and the not-for-profit society that set it up," Kannan said.
Kannan and the other 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees will receive their awards at the Presentation Ceremonies at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Nov. 11.
One of them is Filipino peace-builder Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who will be honored for her persistent belief in the transformative impact of nonviolent strategies in peacebuilding.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/4/miriam-coronel-ferrer-filipina-peace-builder-2023-ramon-magsaysay-awardee
Another recipient is Eugenio Lemos, a Timorese musician and environmental activist striving to harness indigenous and food security for future generations.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/5/eugenio-lemos-ally-of-food-secure-future-from-timor-leste
Korvi Rakshand will also receive the "Emergent Leadership" award for making education accessible to individuals in Bangladesh.